Mindbender

I was under the impression that Uri Geller was illusionist using simple parlor tricks to impress his gullible audience. After watching this movie however, I realized that I was misinformed. It turns out that Geller is a superhero on the run from the military, that wants to use his powers for evil. Yes, it's that stupid.

Endorsed by Geller himself this is a lame, selfserving piece of crap. Is it drama, comedy, or sci-fi thriller? Who knows? It appears the director couldn't decide, and made it a little bit of everything, none of which has any redeeming qualities.

As a reasonably intelligent person this movie made me want to beat myself in the head with a shovel.

For me to say that will amaze people that know me because Ken Russell directed it and wrote it. BAD Ken, Bad Boy Ken. On a visit to L.A Ken showed it to Dan Ireland and Myself. When He asked what we thought..........WE did not soften the blow. Horrible must have been my comment but I do remember Dan just Laughing in disbelief. I hope they both are sharring a good laugh where ever they may be. These were two of my best, Very Best friends of mu life. How I miss them.

If you're looking for a serious treatment of Uri Geller's life and claimed talents (I'm not sure why you would, but...), this will not be what you're seeking. It's best approached as another of Ken Russell's biopics, like his earlier ones of composers and such--a silly, flamboyant, not very fact-adjacent fantasia on the most superficial aspects of a famous person's life.

The early going here at least has some of the enjoyably cartoonish/surreal imagery of something like "Tommy." But then it gets more visually pedestrian, reflecting the lowered budgetary scale. The script feels like a randomly tossed-together series of disconnected episodes, and the limply semi-spoofy tone (with the director's then-spouse camping mercilessly as Terence Stamp's wife) means the film lands just halfway between sending up its subject and being an earnest inquiry into his phenomenon.

Still, it's one of Russell's last relatively professional productions, so worth a look for fans. It's certainly more watchable than some of his subsequent glorified home movies. The ending is amusingly goofy, and Geller himself appears in an audience-participation coda that supposedly helps you repair a broken watch/clock with sheer mind power.