Ricky Jay

DECEPTIVE PRACTICE: THE MYSTERIES AMD MENTORS OF RICKY JAY

Ricky Jay, the great magician, magic historian and collector, has died at age 72 after also making his mark in cinema. Jay appeared in Boogie Nights, Magnolia and a passel of David Mamet films, including the masterpiece House of Games. You can also find video of his performance Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants.

Jay’s development as a magician is traced in the documentary Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay, which explores the fascinating history of 20th century American magic. We get to see performances by Jay and his mentors, with comments by Jay himself. Ricky Jay’s mysteries were the secrets of 1) his illusions and 2) his family – both unrevealed. Whether expansive about his mentors and his passion for magic, or tight-mouthed about his relationship with his parents, Jay was a fascinating character.

Because the audience gets to see lots of amazing magic, Deceptive Practice is attractive as a performance film. But Jay was an unsurpassed raconteur, one of my all-time favorites, and when he held forth, it was as entertaining as any of his illusions.

I was fortunate to see Deceptive Practice at the San Francisco International Film Festival sitting amongst a bunch of real magicians. Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay is available on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, YouTube and Google Play.

Movies to See Right Now

THE HUNT

This week’s MUST SEES are The Hunt – the best movie of 2013 so far – and the emotionally powerful Fruitvale StationThe Hunt is likely out for only one more week.

I haven’t yet see Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, which opens today with very positive buzz.  You can read descriptions and view trailers of it and other upcoming films at Movies I’m Looking Forward To.

My other recommendations:

Also out right now:

This week, there’s no DVD/Stream of the Week – get out to see The Hunt and Fruitvale Station!

On August 7, Turner Classic Movies is showing the under appreciated 1954 film noir Pushover, with Fred MacMurray as a rogue cop trying to steal a criminal’s girlfriend and loot – and then escape from his pals on the force.

Movies to See Right Now

THE HUNT

This week’s MUST SEE is The Hunt – the best movie of 2013 so far.

I haven’t yet see the critically acclaimed heart breaker Fruitvale Station, which also opens today.  You can read descriptions and view trailers of upcoming films at Movies I’m Looking Forward To.

My other recommendations:

Also out right now:

  • the gross-out comedy This is the End, which has its moments.
  • There’s cleverness in the psychological thriller Berberian Sound Studio, but just not enough thrills for a thriller.
  • Also out on VOD, Nancy, Please is a dark comedy about neurotic obsession among the over-educated. Not that funny.
  • Neither is the VOD comedy Bert and Arnie’s Guide to Friendship.
  • Do not see the wretched crime thriller Only God Forgives, which I’ll write about next week.

My most recent DVD/Stream of the Week picks are the unintentionally hilarious Troll 2 and the documentary about it, Best Worst MovieTroll 2 is available streaming on Amazon, iTunes and Vudu.  Best Worst Movie is available on DVD from Netflix and streaming on Amazon, iTunes and Vudu.  You can see some of the finer bits of Troll 2 by doing a YouTube search for “You can’t piss on hospitality” and “Troll 2 O my God”.

On August 1, Turner Classic Movies is showing In a Lonely Place, an under appreciated film noir.  Two of my favorite classic stars, Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame, each deliver one of their signature performances.  Bogie plays a screenwriter with a drinking problem and a volatile temper – exactly the perpetrator profile for a local murder; good time girl Grahame wants to fall for him…and things will go better if he’s innocent.

Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay

DECEPTIVE PRACTICE: THE MYSTERIES AMD MENTORS OF RICKY JAY

In tracing the development of the great magician Ricky Jay,  the documentary Deceptive Practice:  The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay explores the fascinating history of 20th century American magic.  We get to see performances by Jay and his mentors, with comments by Jay himself.  Ricky Jay’s mysteries are the secrets of 1) his illusions and 2) his family – both unrevealed.  Whether expansive about his mentors and his passion for magic, or tight-mouthed about his relationship with his parents, Jay is a fascinating character.

Because the audience gets to see lots of amazing magic, Deceptive Practice is attractive as a performance film.  But Jay is an unsurpassed raconteur, one of my favorites, and when he holds forth, it’s as entertaining as any of his illusions.

(I was fortunate to see Deceptive Practice at the San Francisco International Film Festival sitting next to bunch of real magicians.)