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Post by lostinlimbo on Sept 23, 2021 5:07:28 GMT
Magic / Richard Attenborough (1978). Young Corky (Anthony Hopkins) has trained under a mentor to become a master at slight-of-hand, but at his first engagement at a nightclub, he bombs terribly. Jump ahead a few years to find him a big hit playing to sold out audience. We soon find out why. In addition to his magic act, he has added a ventriloquist dummy named Fats who insults Corky non-stop is the saltiest of language. “The first x-rated dummy,” say Corky’s agent, Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith). On the fringe of filming a series pilot, Corky freaks when told he must have a medical examination before signing a contract. He runs away (with Fats) to a remote part of New York state where he grew up. There, he reconnect with Peggy Snow (Ann-Margret) his high school crush. Although she is unhappily married, they start up an affair which Fats opposes. Fats, you see, has in Corky’s mind assumed true consciousness and personality. Ben shows up unexpectedly to find Corky and Fats in a big argument. He insists that Corky get psychiatric help. Then the chills begin. There is just something creepy about ventriloquist’s dummies, at least in movies. They can seem unnaturally menacing. It is a little that way about clowns: non-threatening in person but can be something sinister on screen. Fats (voiced by Hopkins) is a scary dude even if his head is made of wood.    That was an excellent, nail-biting scene between Anthony Hopkins and Burgess Meredith at the mountain retreat. Made more effective by the well-meaning nature of Meredith’s talent agent character confronting Corky about his instability. An unstable reality that’s beginning to take control. Corky himself knows it, as the cracks steer to distressing actions of never coming back. And the turning point, Ben’s brutal death, hits hard due to their relationship. Did it go too far, or over-the-top into darkly humorous territory in the execution of Ben’s death. I’m not sure, but it was an unsettling and depressing sight.
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