Immersed in beautifully atmospheric location photography by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, shooting in and around original Scottish architecture, the film’s presentation is stunning.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 7, 2024

Every line spoken is so austere that the characters seem like they're acting in straitjackets. But it's the audience that will be most desperate to escape.

Full Review | May 14, 2018

It's a shame that the story itself feels like smoke and mirrors with nowhere to go, wanting to have its cake and eat it too.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 8, 2008

Death Defying Acts is a hugely enjoyable, impressively directed drama with superb performances and an emotionally engaging script. Terrific final scene too. Highly recommended.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 8, 2008

Any magic is instantly dispelled by the dead hand of a tirelessly pouting Zeta-Jones, whose slap boasts more layers than her talent.

Full Review | Aug 8, 2008

It's all a touch undercooked and dull.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

It's a movie that seems to have been lavished with care and performed with gusto, yet its tale of fakery sounds its own knell: there's not a believable moment in it.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

A watchable, enjoyable but fairly forgettable film, Death Defying Acts has plenty of smoke and mirrors and not quite enough magic.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2008

It's pretty but dull, with Pearce and Zeta-Jones never convincing as supposedly hot-for-each other rivals.

Full Review | Aug 8, 2008

It all looks pretty enough - but well before the end you'll be plotting your escape.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

This is better than the dull Edward Norton vehicle The Illusionist, all involved should have conjured up a companion piece to Christopher Nolan's The Prestige.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

And while less magical than The Prestige, it's perfectly charming matine fare.

Full Review | Aug 8, 2008

The movie is over-schematic, slow-moving and over-furnished. It never seems to come alive with any believable interplay of characters; the movie locks itself into a watertight tank of a premise, and the handcuffs won't come off.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

Houdini's mission to debunk fake spiritualists is hijacked by this wholly fraudulent love story. There's not a moment in the film that feels honest and uncontrived.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

A pleasant, frothy period confection that's as decorative and insubstantial as Zeta Jones's character.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2008

All in all, it's a bit of a snore that falls back on romance when all else fails.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/6 | Aug 8, 2008

Despite the confused tone and underwhelming romance, this pretty little picture entertains in the main thanks to the intriguing subject matter and top turns from Zeta-Jones and Ronan.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2008

excepting experimental films, plot is a key reason we watch movies. Without an interesting one, an hour and a half of competent filmmaking becomes about an hour and 25 minutes of boredom.

Full Review | Jul 30, 2008

Perhaps the film isn't a grandiose statement of splintered lives, but it's an agreeable drama, best when it stays close to the decomposing heart of a professional liar.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 24, 2008

...a decidedly minor addition to the rsum of Australian director Gillian Armstrong...The film moves quickly enough, and it's a passably glossy entertainment, but, as Houdini, Pearce is too young...

Full Review | Jul 18, 2008