This is no exaggeration. I am thrilled that this documentary about Ricky Jay was produced and is soon to be released. I may need to collect my other fan friends for a group viewing.
You may know Ricky Jay for his appearances in almost every David Mamet film. His deadpan delivery stands out in each role he plays. Jay is an accidental actor. His true art is sleight of hand, particularly working with cards.
Meh, I know, magic, but Ricky Jay is an incredible exception. As he says himself, the strength of sleight of hand is that he tells the audience that’s exactly what he’s doing and yet you never see it. His trademark deadpan delivery and wit stand in stark contrast to the flash of other magicians and his skill blows them out of the water.
It’s fun to watch his “cards as weapons routines” where he throws cards one at a time, deeply embedding them in a watermelon. He also works with ball and cup. If he can make somehing disappear and reappear as something else, it’s fair game, but cards are his main business. He performed a Broadway show “Ricky Jay and his 52 Magicians” which I sadly missed when it came to town. The show was directed by David Mamet and is available in it’s entirety – about 1 hour. It’s well worth your time.
Filed under: Games, Humor, Video
