The Magician is a low budget Australian movie from writer / director Scott Ryan which “follows charismatic, yet volatile hitman Ray Shoesmith” (also played by Ryan) around the streets of Melbourne and in various job settings. Unfortunately, I found nothing “charismatic” about the movie.

The film is delivered in documentary style, overdone since the arrival of the first Blair Witch Project some eight years ago. While the opening of the movie is a bit of an eye opener, the story and conversations do nothing to really draw you into the life of Shoesmith, at times leaving you bored - scenes dragging out unnecessarily so, actors rather lifeless.

The big disappointment was the billing on the DVD cover, Total Film describing the movie as “Leon meets Chopper” or something to that effect. If your talking about an Australian hitman than yes - Leon was the hitman and Chopper sure was Australian - but this movie absolutely pales in comparison to either aforementioned title and I can’t see how it deserves to be muttered in the same sentence.

I’m a fan of low-budget movies. I appreciate and respect film makers doing it for themselves and Ryan’s work must be appreciated as he picked up best director, film and actor in 2003 at the Melbourne Underground Festival but you wouldn’t find me queuing up to dish out awards on this production.

Avoid if you can.