Law and Magic Blog

Houdini Film May Be Headed For the Big Screen

Gary Ross ("The Hunger Games") may direct an adaptation of William Kalush and Larry Sloman's The Secret Life of Houdini for Summit.  Meanwhile, it seems that Columbia Pictures might be planning its own Houdini flick, to be directed by Francis Lawrence, who will also direct "Catching Fire," the sequel to Mr. Ross's successful "Hunger Games." Watch closely: how many Houdinis do you see?

"Ouija" Movie--Yes?

Universal Studios, which had apparently said "goodbye" to plans last summer to make a movie based on the popular Ouija board game, owned by Hasbro, seems to be back in the game. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the studio plans to have a film centering on the popular entertainment medium in theaters by 2013. Hmmm...auspicious year? Only the spirits know.

A New Film Featuring Some Magic

From the New York Times Magazine: photos from the forthcoming film Hugo and an interview with the film's director, Martin Scorsese. The film is an adaptation of Brian Selznick's graphic novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and one of the characters is the legendary filmmaker Georges Melies, who had a great interest in stage magic. More here from the Hollywood Reporter.

Psychic Detectives

Christine Corcos, Louisiana State University Law Center, is publishing Prosecutors and Psychics on the Air: Does a "Psychic Detective Effect" Exist?  in Law and Justice On the Small Screen (Jessica Silbey and Peter Robson eds.; Hart Publishing, 2012). Here is the abstract.

With this essay I begin an examination of the effect and influence of psychics and psychic detectives on the legal system and popular culture. Scripted shows such as the popular Medium and the recently cancelled Ghost Whisperer enhance the personal accounts of the psychic detectives on whom they are based, adapting interesting characteristics and stories, and creating entertainment for viewers. Psychic detective shows such as the reality shows Psychic Detectives, Psychic Witness, and the new series Paranormal Cops provide an alternative to the popular crime scene investigation (CSI) shows as a way to provide a window into the legal system for America’s TV audience. The CSI shows rely on experts and an exciting array of scientific tools, suggesting that scientific evidence often can be so conclusive that the prosecutor in criminal cases can satisfy the “reasonable doubt” standard with no problem. Psychicdetective shows seem to present investigative television that appeals to those interested in the spiritual and the unknown and offer a contrast to the certain outcomes of CSI shows by posing questions that seem closer to the realities with which many viewers are more likely to be familiar through their newspaper and tv experiences. Sometimes juries or judges acquit defendants even though they seem to be guilty or convict them though they seem innocent. Some members of the public think they have paranormal experiences and regularly go to psychics. Many people read newspaper horoscopes, even if only for entertainment, and love the inserts in their Chinese fortune cookies. 

Further, such shows emphasize what many viewers may consider to be the fallible side of the legal system, playing on existing viewer fears that defense attorneys with their “tricks” can overwhelm prosecutors and juries. These fears include those that arise out of the impression that constitutional guarantees such as those embedded in the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments are “loopholes” or “technicalities,” which function solely to give the accused far too many rights at the expense of the victim and his or her family. Linked to that fear is the idea that the police may arrest the wrong person or fail to solve crimes altogether. In conjunction with a news media which deluges viewers with stories about cold cases are horror stories about criminals inexplicably allowed to go free who then commit additional crimes, killers never caught and the suspicion that innocent persons may spend years in prison or may well be executed, such “psychic detective” shows present a convenient solution to what seems to some to be an insoluble and horrific dilemma.  

 

The full text is not available from SSRN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Magician Movie

From The Hollywood Reporter, news about the new film The Great Magician , from Emperor Motion Pictures, which stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai, a "master illusionist in the 1900s who gets the girl and saves his country with his magic tricks." The movie, directed by Derek Yee, is currently in production.

Magical Terror On a Train

One of my colleagues told me about Terrror Train, a film starring the young Jamie Lee Curtis, Ben Johnson, and, as "Ken the Magician," David Copperfield. A killer stalks the college students on board a train New Year's Eve, apparently in revenge for a prank they pulled years before. The taglines for the film are, variously, "The boys and girls of Sigma Phi. Some will live. Some will die,"  All Aboard... If You Dare!", "A nightmare journey to hell...", and "Don't waste money on a return fare. You won't be coming back!" While the magician performs illusions, the killer takes out victims.

I like the last one the best. At any rate, Vanity is also in this movie, playing the character "Merry." According to IMDB, Mr. Copperfield also created the illusions for this film.

These Are Not the Trademark Infringers You're Thinking Of....

Via the Entertainment Litigation Blog, George Lucas (The "Star Wars" films) has finally sued Jedi Mind over its "technology [which] involves the use of a wireless headset, developed by our strategic partner, which detects brainwaves on both the conscious and non-conscious level [and which] makes it possible for computers to interact directly with the human brain." Mr. Lucas apparently attempted over the past two years to get Jedi Mind to cease and desist, without success. Bring on the magic of the lawsuit.

And the Next Magician Movie Will Be...

So, now that Tom Cruise has abandoned (apparently) The War Magician (based on David Fisher's book), the magician as hero market is wide open. Warner Brothers has picked up the option on Glen David Gold's Carter Beats the Devil, which was originally optioned to be made into an AMC series but never emerged on the small screen. Now it looks like it may be headed for filmdom. Michael Gilio will turn the novel into a script and Jon Shestack will produce. More here.

An Interview With Jon Ronson (the Men Staring at Goats Guy)

eSkeptic has an interview with Jon Ronson, author of The Men Who Stare at Goats, here. The film opens wide this November.

Staring At Goats, Big Screen

The Guardian's Andrew Pulver has this "first look" at George Clooney's adaptation of Jon Ronson's "The Men Who Stare at Goats," which premieres at the Venice Film Festival, and is set to open wide this fall. The film centers on a U.S. army unit that investigates (and seems to believe in) psychic powers.