Rough Magic

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Rough Magic

PG-13

1995

1h 44m

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

25%

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8 Reviews

40%

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1,000+ Ratings

In the midst of a dazzling stage show, magician's assistant Myra Shumway (Bridget Fonda) catches the eye of sleazy industrialist Cliff Wyatt (D.W. Moffett). When Wyatt unwittingly kills Shumway's mentor, a master magician, she flees to Mexico. Furious, Wyatt hires private detective Alex Ross (Russell Crowe) to capture the gorgeous witness to his crime. But, after Ross locates Shumway, he finds himself beguiled by her growing prowess as a magician -- and by the potency of her feminine charms.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

Rough going.

Rated: 1/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Maybe the project was so weird it was doomed from the start. Give Rough Magic credit, however, for possessing all the pieces necessary to make two other movies that both might have worked.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Bob Satuloff

The Advocate

[It] aspires to be It Happened One Night-meets- Carlos Castaneda. Thanks to the stylish writing and direction, exotic locations, gorgeous visuals, the spirited work of Bridget Fonda as a gifted magician, and Russell Crowe as her romantic foil, it is.

Jun 1, 2022

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 29, 2005

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Dragan Antulov

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Rated: 2/10

Nov 18, 2002

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

Wild and zany film that mixes comedy with the magic realism of Latin American novels.

Aug 29, 2002

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Jelisije J

Such a weird film about magic and love.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/24

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Eli K

Rough Magic is an unusual and a charming film. It's a mix of comedy, magic and noir that turns into outright fantasy. One never knows where the plot is going to turn next and has an all-round happy ending.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/26/24

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Sue C

Having been to Mexico several times and being a fan of Russell Crowe and Bridget Fonda, naturally I viewed the fantasy romance/crime film ROUGH MAGIC (several times) and I purchased the DVD some years ago. It isn't for everyone, true, but it is ideal for me, full of vintage charm, great performers, romance, beautiful scenery and spine-tingling chants echoing from the deepest heart of Mexico. The title may be off-putting - perhaps ROUGH MAGIC would have drawn more interest if titled MAGIC AND MYSTERY IN MEXICO instead. One of a kind.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/22/22

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Lee M

This is a quirky movie that mixes magical fantasy with classic noir. The weirdness is not for everyone but transporting for me. Bridget Fonda's performance as her version of the classic Bacall or Lake with her quick biting wit and scrappy self-sufficiency is totally charming . It's core is about the power that a women has when connected to her true self. With peak 90's Russel Crowe, this movie is still one of my go to's.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/20

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Frances H

Pleasant character-driven film with a whimsical, magical element to it that compliments the romance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/23/15

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Audience Member

Even watching this movie in the background, I wasn't all that impressed from what I saw. I'd have to watch it again and pay attention through the entire thing to be sure, but I'm pretty sure my attention span would not last through that particular movie (hence why I was not captivated by it while doing other things). It couldn't hold my attention.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Clare Peploe

Director

Bridget Fonda

Myra Shumway

Russell Crowe

Alex Ross

Jim Broadbent

Doc Ansell

D.W. Moffett

Cliff Wyatt

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Synopsis

In the midst of a dazzling stage show, magician's assistant Myra Shumway (Bridget Fonda) catches the eye of sleazy industrialist Cliff Wyatt (D.W. Moffett). When Wyatt unwittingly kills Shumway's mentor, a master magician, she flees to Mexico. Furious, Wyatt hires private detective Alex Ross (Russell Crowe) to capture the gorgeous witness to his crime. But, after Ross locates Shumway, he finds himself beguiled by her growing prowess as a magician -- and by the potency of her feminine charms.

Director: Clare Peploe
Producer: Laurie Parker, Declan Baldwin
Screenwriter: Robert Mundi, William Brookfield, Clare Peploe
Production Co: Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $221.7K
Runtime: 1h 44m

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