Death Defying Acts

In Edinburgh, the “shows” put on by Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and her clever daughter Benji (Saoirse Ronan) are a real spectacle: posing as a medium, the attractive parapsychologist Mary pretends to communicate with the spirits of the dead. In reality, however, the mother-daughter duo dazzles the astonished audience with information gleaned from stolen pocket watches and civil registry records... Another supposed magician of their time, touring England in 1926, is the famous escape artist Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce). He has offered $10,000 to anyone who can prove his mother's last words. Mary and Benji sense their big chance at a fake séance. But soon there are not only alleged vibrations in the air, but also romantic feelings... "The story, though by Tony Grisoni and Brian Ward is intriguing, and Mr. Pearce’s performance (bolstered by Timothy Spall as Houdini’s manager) helps sell it." (Neil Genzlinger, in: The New York Times)