The Magician (2005/I)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Scott Ryan

Writer:

Scott Ryan (writer)

Release Date:

29 September 2005 (Australia)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

For the right money he can make anything disappear [Australia DVD]

Plot:

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Scott Ryan	...	Ray Shoesmith
Ben Walker	...	Tony Rickards
Massimiliano Andrighetto	...	Massimo "Max" Totti
Kane Mason	...	Benny
Nathaniel Lindsay	...	Edna
Adam Ryan	...	Garage Victim

Directed by
Scott Ryan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Scott Ryan		writer

Produced by
Massimiliano Andrighetto	....	co-producer
Michele Bennett	....	producer
Nash Edgerton	....	producer
Gary Phillips	....	executive producer
Scott Ryan	....	producer
Mark Vennis	....	executive producer
Ben Walker	....	co-producer

Cinematography by
Massimiliano Andrighetto

Film Editing by
Nash Edgerton
Kristine Rowe
Scott Ryan

Production Management
Naomi Wenck	....	post-production supervisor

Sound Department
Damian Candusso	....	dialogue editor
Damian Candusso	....	sound effects editor
Paul Korber	....	sound editor: atmosphere
Ian McLoughlin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sam Petty	....	sound designer
Blair Slater	....	foley recordist
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Nic Barnes	....	visual effects producer
Helen Clemens	....	visual effects artist
Elliot Goodman	....	visual effects artist
Michael Gracey	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
John Tsiavis	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Luke Doolan	....	additional editor
Sarah Robertson	....	supervising editor

Other crew
Emren Kara	....	production lawyer
Clare Mirabello	....	production lawyer
Carol Riggins	....	animal trainer
Ben Walker	....	script consultant

Thanks
Andrew Dominik	....	thanks
Joel Edgerton	....	thanks
David Michôd	....	thanks
Mark Brandon Read	....	thanks
Richard Wolstencroft	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Blue-Tongue Films
• Cherub Pictures
• I Will Films Pty. Ltd.

Distributors

• Hopscotch Productions (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Trinity Filmed Entertainment (2005) (UK) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Mana Music  music supervision

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:15A | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Blue-Tongue Films

Trivia:

All of the actors are amateurs apart from the filmmaker Max whom we never see on camera.

Soundtrack:

Black Lagoon

Surprisingly good. Real good.

I recently saw the world premier of this film at the Sydney Film Festival and I admit I wasn't expecting much. It was dubbed as some kind of Chopper-like film with no budget, no known cast and shot on the streets. I was surprised to find it quite entertaining and a real relief from the mostly poor uninspired films currently being made within the Australian Film Finance system. 'The Magician' has a real edge and it has one element lacking in most of the cinema produced in Australia, a strong, genuinely funny lead in writer/director Scott Ryan. Shot in digital video this is a mocumentary on Ray Shoestring, a Melbournian hit-man, a man that makes people disappear. We following him on his exploits see the reality of this profession. Full of improvised dialog and shot in a raw, realist style, you get an insight into the mind of a flawed killer. The character takes his time on camera, you see him thinking and he becomes disturbingly real. The funniest film I've seen come out of my native country in years. Its interesting to note, according to Scott, it was filmed in ten days on a self raised AU$3000. It is a testimate to the passion of the Australian filmmaker making what he can without the need for 'developement' money and 5 - 8 years of 'writing'. It's the most inpiring self funded work I've seen since Robert Rodriguez filmed 'El Mariachi' for $US6000 in 1991.