James Randi is known as a master magician, escapologist and illusionist. In recent years he is better known as a man who exposes fake psychics and faith healers.
He regards conjurers as honest people, psychics and faith healers as being dishonest, who swindle people from their money and at worse dangerous with their quack medicine.
The film traces Randi's life from downtown Toronto to when he first saw his magic show and his interest in Harry Houdini. He was a regular in the American late night talk show circuit since the 1970s.
However from the 1970s onward when the likes of Uri Geller and Peter Popof showed up on television with their amazing feats, Randi felt the need to expose these charlatans. Geller's spoon bending was just good conjuring and in The Johnny Carson Show, Geller was stumped that night because the producer had followed Randi's advice in setting up the props.
Popof used Jesus to cure people but he knew their ailments because it was all fed to him on a mic wired up to him as his researchers talked to the audience before hand.
Still as Geller said these days despite people being more rational and educated, despite Randi's efforts there are more psychics, faith healers and flimflam men than ever before. Both Geller and Popof are plying their trade.
The last part of the film delves into Randi's personal life. The film hints at his sexuality and his relationship with a young Venezuelan José Alvarez who has been his companion for several decades. However Alvarez suffered an expose of his own with immigration authorities causing Randi no end of troubles and heartache as to what he really knew.
This was an enjoyable watch, nice to see him embarrass the likes of Geller and Popof but really they are coated with some kind of Teflon as they have no shame. The money is out there and Geller and Popof just reinvented themselves and still grabbed it. The film hints was this all for nothing?
He regards conjurers as honest people, psychics and faith healers as being dishonest, who swindle people from their money and at worse dangerous with their quack medicine.
The film traces Randi's life from downtown Toronto to when he first saw his magic show and his interest in Harry Houdini. He was a regular in the American late night talk show circuit since the 1970s.
However from the 1970s onward when the likes of Uri Geller and Peter Popof showed up on television with their amazing feats, Randi felt the need to expose these charlatans. Geller's spoon bending was just good conjuring and in The Johnny Carson Show, Geller was stumped that night because the producer had followed Randi's advice in setting up the props.
Popof used Jesus to cure people but he knew their ailments because it was all fed to him on a mic wired up to him as his researchers talked to the audience before hand.
Still as Geller said these days despite people being more rational and educated, despite Randi's efforts there are more psychics, faith healers and flimflam men than ever before. Both Geller and Popof are plying their trade.
The last part of the film delves into Randi's personal life. The film hints at his sexuality and his relationship with a young Venezuelan José Alvarez who has been his companion for several decades. However Alvarez suffered an expose of his own with immigration authorities causing Randi no end of troubles and heartache as to what he really knew.
This was an enjoyable watch, nice to see him embarrass the likes of Geller and Popof but really they are coated with some kind of Teflon as they have no shame. The money is out there and Geller and Popof just reinvented themselves and still grabbed it. The film hints was this all for nothing?