Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay

2013 | Documentary

Synopsis

Ricky Jay is a world-renowned magician, author, historian and actor (often a mischievous presence in the films of David Mamet and Paul Thomas Anderson) -- and a performer who regularly provokes astonishment from even the most jaded audiences. Deceptive Practice traces Jay's achievements and influences, from his apprenticeship at age 4 with his grandfather, to such now-forgotten legends as Al Flosso, Slydini, Cardini and his primary mentors, Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller. Featuring rare footage from his 1970s TV appearances (doing 3-card Monte with Steve Martin on The Dinah Shore Show) and told in Jay's inimitable voice, this is a remarkable journey inside the secretive world of magic and the small circle of eccentrics who are its perpetual devotees.

Scores

Overall Score
39.4
Popularity Percentile (Year)
21.5%
Box Office Percentile (Year)
39.3%
Review Aggregate
79.8

Critic Consensus

92.7% Fresh • 41 critic reviews

Critic reception is largely positive, with 93% of 41 logged reviews marked Fresh. Across reviews, critics repeatedly emphasize thin plot, character-driven, emotional. Most critics frame the film as an effective delivery of its core style and intent.

thin plotcharacter-drivenemotionalvisually strikingthought-provokingrealistic

Cast

CastYearReported SalaryInflation AdjustedNotes
N/A

Aggregated Reviews

Rotten Tomatoes critic score93.0
RT critic review count41
Rotten Tomatoes audience score71.0
RT audience rating count500
IMDb rating7.1
IMDb votes1,037

Box Office ?

CategoryYearReportedInflation Adjusted
Domestic2013$152,791$205,710
International2013N/AN/A
Worldwide2013$152,791$205,710

Earnings / Profitability

Estimated net revenues and net expenses for films based on reported and estimated numbers. This income statement should be considered most viable for the first 24 months after the inital movie's release (ie after most lucrative pay windows).
CategoryYearReportedInflation Adjusted
Revenues
Theatrical Net Revenue2013$76,396$102,855
Digital Rentals ?2013$1,960,000$2,638,850
Digital Purchases ?2013$1,172,000$1,577,924
Physical Rentals ?2013$2,533,000$3,410,309
Physical Purchases ?2013$6,563,000$8,836,107
TV & Streaming Revenue2013$76,396$102,855
Total Revenues2013$12,380,791$16,668,901
Expenses
Budget ?2013$250,000 (est)$336,588 (est)
Print & Advertising (P&A) ?2013$122,000 (est)$164,255 (est)
Participations2013$495,000$666,444
Residuals ?2013$779,000$1,048,808
Interest & Overhead2013$50,000$67,318
Total Expenses2013$1,696,000$2,283,413
Movie Net Profit or Loss2013$10,684,791$14,385,488

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