Cosentino the Grand Illusionist
I’ve always found the art of illusion intriguing and
impressive, yet I feel watching a pre-recorded stage show ruins some of
the mystery, thus making Cosentino: The Grand Illusionist a
bittersweet viewing experience for me. While the former Australia’s Got
Talent runner up undoubtedly has a unique talent that many other
illusionists wish they possessed, this home release showcasing sections
of his live show and his street acts unfortunately ruins some of the
magic through staged interviews and unnecessary addition of content.
The Grand Illusionist
isn’t particularly long; this 43 minute long feature mainly focuses on
the highlights from Cosentino’s live stage show at the Regent Theatre in
Sydney while throwing in some of his street acts every now and then. A
better focus on either of the two would’ve been preferred, as the short
run time doesn’t allow you to get fully involved or excited about either
of them, and before you know it the main feature is over. Luckily the
special features make up for some of it, however I’m confused as to why
they weren’t included as part of the main feature to begin with.
While his magic is certainly impressive it’s hard to
believe its authenticity from merely watching a DVD. There’s plenty of
cuts between cameras in scenes which Cosentino states that parts of his
trick are in plain sight the whole time, yet watching it on this
documentary this is not the case. During the street magic scenes the
reactions from his audiences are far from believable, and some of the
tricks are even less believable, such as Cosentino’s ability to guess
what someone has written down on a piece of paper without being shown
what it is. It’s not mind reading like he claims; it’s having the
ability to follow someone’s writing patterns while also having the
ability to edit out any attempts that failed.
If you were a die-hard follower of Cosentino during
his Australia’s Got Talent journey you’ll certainly find some enjoyment
while viewing The Grand Illusionist. For those who haven’t heard
of him, your levels of skepticism surrounding the art of illusion will
rise.
