"Point Blank" by Michael Ammar and Jordan Cotler
Suggested Retail USD$20.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 7 Out of 10

"Point Blank", a card trick by Michael Ammar and Jordan Cotler, is a quick, engaging piece of card magic that takes the old plot to an interesting level though experienced performers will be disappointed by what they find.

"Point Blank" takes more time to describe than it does to perform. A deck of cards is shown, shuffled, and spread face up on the table. The spectator names any card (no force), and the performer locates the card in the face-up spread and pulls it out. The cards are gathered up, re-spread, and all the cards have now turned blank except for the chosen card. The chosen card itself then turns blank for the climax.

The gaffed cards that make up the deck are standard fare (you can buy the deck from a number of magic shops) but you'll supply the work in the form of a couple of common sleights. Both the set-up and reset are quick and simple, making repeating this one a breeze.

"Point Blank" is a good trick. It plays bigger than you'd think and, with Ammar's exceptional presentation, it's a a worthy piece of magic if you can overcome some obstacles.

First, the deck is a one-use deck. You can't practically use it for anything else. It also cannot be examined, so you'll need to deal with that issue if it arises. Personally, I hate giving up that much pocket real estate unless the trick is exceptional and, while "Point Blank" is very good, it's not worth the luggage.

Second, this one really needs some table space for that spread. True, you could do without it and do this one pretty much "in the hands", but it weakens the effect considerably. With this and the one-use deal, "Point Blank" would be better suited to a more formal occasion than, say, a strolling environment.

Third, if you go into this expecting some new whiz-bang gadgetry or striking sleight combo... forget it. Neither are to be found here. In fact, it could be argued that this would be a piece that would have been better suited printed up in a magazine than sold as a stand-alone product (I'd argue that, while true, the price is modest considering the cost of the deck, the secret of the handling, and the presentation).

So, with those in mind, is "Point Blank" for you? If you're into performing one-off effects that pack a bit of a punch, and can deal with the deck issues, then yes, it's for you. It plays very well and is quite engaging. If any of the drawbacks hit you as something more than an inconvenience, you're likely to be disappointed in "Point Blank" and relegate it to the proverbial sock drawer.

"Point Blank" by Michael Ammar and Jordan Cotler
In a Blink: 7 Out of 10

Practicality: 4
While there's no set-up and the reset is instant, the biggest blow here is the one-use deck that quickly becomes two-decks if you're of a mind to switch things out and end clean. Combine a one-use deck with the need for some table space and this one pretty much becomes a set-piece for a more formal occasion.

Workmanship: 10
The deck was printed by USPCC and looks great; no problems here.

Documentation: 6
The documentation is adequate enough to get the point across and the color photographs help a lot.

Effect: 8
This plays very well, at least as well as the older and more venerable versions, and gets good reactions from spectators. The change of the chosen card is the big selling point here.

Presentation: 10
Ammar's presentation -- a quick introduction to existentialism -- is good stuff and emotionally involving. This is, simply, a great way to present this one.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact FUN, Inc. by phone at (773)745-3837, email at info@funinc.com, or visit the FUN Inc. website.