THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY

BEN BERMAN | USA | 2019 | 90 MIN | NR

’The Amazing Johnathan’, with his irreverent magic act, rose to popularity landing one of the longest residencies in Las Vegas. But in 2014, Johnathan was diagnosed with a terminal heart condition and given only one year to live, forcing him to retire his act. Fast forward to three years, Johnathan is still alive and chooses to return to the stage. Filmmaker Ben Berman sets out to capture The Amazing Johnathan’s comeback tour while peeling back the curtain on his unique, meth-fueled life.

But the seemingly straightforward profile of this eccentric illusionist starts careening off the rails as Johnathan drops a bombshell that sends the film spiraling into uncertainty. As Berman delves deeper to determine what’s real and what’s illusion, hard questions are raised, uncovering deeper truths about the ethics of filmmaking and human nature.

Followed by a conversation, via Skype, with director Ben Berman:
Born in Allentown, PA and a graduate from Temple University, Berman first gained notoriety as an editor for Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! He went on to direct episodes of Lady Dynamite, Man Seeking Woman, as well as the pilots for Comedy Bang! Bang! and Jon H. Benjamin Has a Van. This is first feature film.

“An eccentric, wild, and gripping goose chase of a film.” –The Playlist

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