Director John Crowley is up to no good … literally. He is able to conjure up anecdotal scenes that include disappearing card tricks, a moving chair and even a magical guillotine. But there is no illusion, the dark comedy, Is Anybody There, is imprisoned by its banal acting performances and the slow-moving screenplay.
Crowley’s film takes place in a depressive retirement facility where the caretakers are just as deeply troubled as the elderly Brits. Edward (Actor Bill Milner) plays a gawky yet inquisitive ten-year-old English lad from a small town off the coast of Britain who is obsessed with paranormal communication from deceased people. Actor Michael Caine plays Clarence, an embittered retired magician with a tragic personal past who is coming to grips with his declining physical condition and coping with the mistakes of his past that still haunt him. Edward and Clarence strike up an unusual camaraderie through the art of magic and communication from another caring person.
Crowley’s film’s glaring misfire is the lackluster chemistry between the top two male leads. Caine’s performance is too contrived and rehearsed for viewers to truly empathize with his character’s plight. The movie’s lone highlight is the stellar performance of Milner, who is able to admirably demonstrate the character’s metamorphosis from a reclusive boy to a social, potential budding magician in the making. Unfortunately, the film is plagued by the story’s unimpressive subplots. Milner’s parents (played by David Morrissey and Anne-Marie Duff) marital discord is never fully developed enough for the viewer to become cognizant of how those conflicts resulted in the child’s obvious emotional trauma.The limitations of Crowley and head writer Peter Harness contribute to both a subpar movie and disappointing cinematic viewing experience. It’s time to unveil a new trick from the filmmakers’ repertoire, hit the delete button and start from scratch!
Grade: C-
By Aaron Malofsky
