Death Defying Acts

There is no escape.


Death Defying Acts
Set in the year of his death, this fictional episode in the life of famous magician Harry Houdini takes place while he is on a tour to England. He had recently offered a large prize to anyone able to tell him what his mother's dying words were. He was trying to prove that all the spirit mediums who popped up after the war were fakes. In England, he meets an attractive woman who claims to by psychic, and who has her eye on the prize. She captivates Harry, and soon he is in her arms... but is she all that she seems to be, or is she merely conning him?

96 minutes.
Mature Accompaniment under 10.
Drama, Romance, Thriller, On the art circuit
So what did your mother say?
So what did your mother say?

Credits

Cast
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall, Saoirse Ronan
Director
Gillian Armstrong
ScreenplayTony Grisoni, Brian Ward
MusicCezary Skubiszewski
CinematographyHaris Zambarloukos
EditingGail Stevens
Sound formats
Made in2007
Produced byAustralian Film Finance Corporation, Myriad Pictures, BBC Films, Zephyr Films, Macgowan Films, Cinemakers, Film France

IMDB page
Scroll down for embedded trailer

Film and Publications Board (FPB) Report (SA)

GenreDrama
LanguageMild and infrequent
NudityNone
SexNone
ViolenceMild and infrequent
PrejudiceNone
BlasphemyNone
Drug abuseNone
CommentsNone
These details are supplied by the FPB. If you have a problem with any of the above, please take it up directly with the FPB. Read the Classification Guidelines.



Ratings

Scale (Max)20

What the Critics say

Cape Argus / The Star
Theresa Smith
10
Die Burger
Jacques Liebenberg
5
iAfrica.com
Rebekah Kendal quote iconTerrific performances by all of the leads, sumptuous cinematography, adept direction and a few very funny lines ensure that the experience is riveting.
13
The Citizen
Peter Feldman quote iconThe film, anchored by an unexpectedly charismatic performance from Pearce, is a bold costume drama with an eye for detail and atmosphere. Throughout, Armstrong manages to weave together elements of trickery, magic, guilt and love in an enjoyable and breezy romp.
14
Sunday Times
Barry Ronge
10
24.com
Ivan Sadler quote iconGiven the subject matter and capable cast I expected something spectacular, but merely got an adequate couple of hours of entertainment.
10
eye Weekly
Jason Anderson quote iconLargely devoid of the flair and cunning that any movie about magic needs, Death Defying Acts comes off as a poor relation to The Prestige and The Illusionist.
5
Rottentomatoes critics
5 critics
11
Rottentomatoes tomatometer
Tomatometer
16

What the People say

Internet
537 Netizens
12

Average .. 53%

11

Trailer






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