The Magician (1959)

Truly Dreadful Film

Sadly Over-hyped

Best movie of this year hands down!

Blistering performances.

When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports of a variety of supernatural disturbances at Vogler's prior performances abroad, the leading townspeople (including the police chief and medical examiner) request that their troupe provide them a sample of their act, before allowing them public audiences.The film was distantly inspired by G. K. Chesterton's play "Magic", which Bergman numbered among his favorites. Bergman staged a theater production of "Magic" in Swedish at one point. Chesterton is an author who needs more love, and if it comes from Bergman, all the better.Although this film is great for its portrayal of science versus the supernatural, what really makes it worthwhile is Bergman's use of color. No one, and I mean no one, mastered black and white like he did, making every film a joy to watch even if the story was not good. (Luckily, his stories are always good.)

"The Magician" is one of my personal favorite Bergman films! While it isn't as classic as films like "The Seventh Seal" and "Wild Strawberries", but I think that this film deserves just as much credit as other, more acclaimed Bergman films.This is, without a doubt, one of Bergman's lighter films. While the film does get really dark and even sad at times, a majority of it is surprisingly light, and there's tons of comic bits! Trust me, it's much lighter than a film like "Winter Light", a Bergman film that's basically about a priest that starts losing his faith and just becomes depressed. While that isn't really the whole film, that's the basic plot synopsis!"The Magician" is also very beautiful to look at (like all other Bergman films). The lighting and cinematography are beautifully Gothic and fit the story well.Overall, this is an amazing, funny, and beautiful film from a masterful filmmaker.

Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater rolls into town and is promptly summoned for a meet with the town big wigs. Hoping to expose all involved in the theatre as charlatans, the disbelievers request a personal show before allowing the show to go public. With very interesting results.There is a belief amongst many Ingmar Begman fans that Ansiktet (The Magician) is far too accessible a piece to be considered one of his greatest pieces. And whilst it does find Bergman more easy to understand for the casual viewer, it's however still complex enough to thrill and niggle the mind in equal measure. Taking two factors that he very much adored, masks and magic, Bergman threads them off into various directions, and in the process testing us the audience as to just what to expect from the story. The mysterious wonder of it all is naturally aided by Bergman's use of light and shadowy trickery, symbols loom heavy without dampening the theme on offer, with nothing of course actually quite being as it seems.As is normally the case under the master director, the cast are uniformally strong. With Gunnar Bjornstrand and Ingrid Thulin particularly standing out. But really this is all about tricks and ideas relating to magic and its blending in with reality. So much so that with the end comes an awakening that we the audience are indeed props in one of Bergman's shows, and that can never be a bad or even an accessible thing.A fascinating picture from a very fascinating director. 8/10

An appropriately mysterious Gothic tale with fascinating characters, who may or may not actually possess certain powers, the material is envisioned well by Ingmar Bergman, with careful attention to lighting design, and the acting is superb. Max Von Sydow is given the most intriguing part to play, and he pulls it off well, but Ingrid Thulin and Naima Wifstrand both deserve mentions for breathing life into their fey characters too. The film is about illusions ultimately, and those who are too critical to suspend their disbelief. It is a bit hard though interpreting exactly what Bergman intended by some of the oddities that he has placed in, such as dispersing poison to a young man. Are these attempts to add humour to the tale? Even with these odd inclusions and rushed ending that is a let down, it is quite a satisfying film overall. The music is great, the acting is excellent, and the interesting characters help make this film one of Bergman's most intriguing pieces.