Balthazar Blake ( Nicolas Cage ) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis , Maxim Horvath ( Alfred Molina ) . Balthazar Blake ( Nicolas Cage ) is a sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan , fighting against the forces of evil , in particular his arch-nemesis , Maxim Horvath ( Alfred Molina ) , while searching for the person who will inherit Merlin 's powers .