Starring: Adrien Brody, Kristen Connolly, Evan Jones
Certificate: 15
Synopsis: Follow the man behind the magic as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualists and encounters the greatest names of the era, from U.S. presidents to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Grigori Rasputin.
TV became pure escapism recently when Adrien Brody, star of THE PIANIST, moved to the small screen for a two-part drama to play Harry Houdini. Over two nights, viewers were shown how Houdini’s career began, how he met his wife, what happened when he was asked to lead a double life by becoming a spy and how he continued to up the ante in his performances in an attempt to keep the audiences hooked.
It’s fascinating to see the techniques behind his productions and the many very smart people he brought on board to help construct the escaping tricks that would make him such a phenomenal star. That Houdini went on the lead such a fascinating life is undeniable. He met many dignitaries and celebrities and was known across the world for his performances. According to the TV show, many people who saw them thought him to possess truly magical powers.
In Houdini, his infatuation with his mother goes from endearing and respectful to creepy and unnerving. It’s a relationship that over-powers all the others in his life, including that of his long-suffering wife (Kristen Connolly) who is assistant, confidante and friend throughout all of his endeavours.
Overall, Houdini is absolutely worth a watch – if only to see Adrien Brody’s superb transformation. It’s full of the tension and excitement his shows must have provided in reality. Sadly, though, it’s often disjointed and the bizarre ending lets it down.
[usr=3] Houdini is out now to purchase, pick your copy up here.
