Death Defying Acts, directed by Gillian Armstrong and penned by Tony Grisoni and Brian Ward, features Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Timothy Spall, and Saoirse Ronan in its cast. The film’s score is composed by Cezary Skubiszewski, with cinematography by Haris Zambarloukos. This isn't a full biography of Harry Houdini; instead, it focuses on one chapter of his life. Death Defying Acts (a misleading title) feels underwhelming overall. The narrative follows Houdini in the years following his mother’s passing as he journeys to 1920s Edinburgh and becomes entangled with Psychic Tricksters Mary (Jones) and Benji McGarvie (Ronan), a pair who see a chance to capitalize on a reward offered by the renowned escape artist. The film attempts to delve into Houdini, exploring his vulnerabilities, anxieties, and positive attributes, but it ultimately comes across as a standard romantic period drama that's missing energy and excitement. Pearce puts in effort portraying Houdini, yet he never quite manages to capture the character’s inner turmoil. Jones seems ill-suited for her role, and even her appearance can’t elevate what is otherwise a lackluster performance. Ronan brings some liveliness to her part, and Spall demonstrates emotional depth as Houdini's worried manager. The scenes involving magic tricks provide brief moments of interest, though the filmmakers feel compelled to expose the illusion behind them. While the romantic atmosphere of the period, and Houdini’s position within it, is effectively presented visually, the film suffers from a general lack of spark and muddled themes, resulting in something significantly below par. 4/10

Source on TMDB