The Illusionist (2006) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

Czech Republic, USA 2006
Director: Neil Burger
Cast: Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan, Eleanor Tomlinson
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: August 18th 2006
Running Time: 1 hour 48 mins 51 secs

The Movie Review

The Illusionist film still 1


The ILLUSIONIST
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

I guess normally no one likes to be fooled, lied to or tricked. But all becomes a different matter when it comes to magic. People even paid to see the show and to be amazed by the magician's genius tricks. I still remember the excitement watching David Copperfield live in Jakarta back in the mid 90s, to see everything up close of his magic tricks and illusions that I used to see only on TV.

The story set in Vienna, Austria, revolves around a man named Eisenheim the Illusionist (Edward Norton) who has a bit of bitter past as he was forbidden to see the love of his life, the Duchess von Teschen named Sophie (Jessica Biel), because Eisenheim comes from a different social class. Feeling utterly sad, he traveled around the world to study many things and held magic show in various places. And now, he ends up doing something very controversial on stage in Vienna that it provokes the Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) to arrest him for charlatanism and threats against the empire. Apparently in this city, Eisenheim accidentally finds Sophie in another man's arms, which unfortunately the man is the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). Is Eisenheim being targeted only because of Sophie's fiancé's jealousy? Or what has Eisenheim actually done?

Guess where my 6th finger is

Of course a movie about magician should contain much more than just stunning magic tricks performed by the lead actor. If that's the case than it's better for us to see live show instead. Fortunately The Illusionist is also filled with mystery, twist and it's very artistic. This is what a movie about magician supposed to be. Nothing is what it seems. This means the strongest part of this thriller film lies Not on the acting department because even with solid cast all around, their performances are just good enough without being extraordinary probably with only Jessica Biel who's rather a miscast. But it lies mainly on the suspense of the story, on the twists and of course also on the fascination to the tricks that Eisenheim performs. Another advantage of modern CGI.

The Illusionist is a movie adaptation of short story written by Steven Millhauser's titled Eisenheim the Illusionist. This concoction of thriller, drama and romance is a safe film to watch with your entire family, well... with a little bit of very tame sex scene. The story, the costume and the beautiful cinematography would take you into a journey to Victorian era Vienna, and what makes it better is the steady pacing with the story flows naturally and sometimes being narrated by the good strong voice of Paul Giamatti.

The Illusionist was released back in 2006 only 2 months before another great movie about magician, The Prestige (2006). And it's hard no to compare both films. Overall, The Prestige packs more surprises with a great shocking ending, if you would just lower your level of skepticism. The Illusionist also has a great ending, although if you have seen or read mystery/detective books, it would not too surprise you anymore. But even then, the way the ending is being presented is a joy of its own and it's more logically acceptable than the one in The Prestige. Besides...one of the main important aspect to enjoy a magic show, in my personal opinion, is not trying to guess how the magician doing their tricks. You paid to get fooled and if you can accept that, you would get out of the show feeling satisfied and entertained.

> Time travel to Victorian era with these great movies: Sherlock Holmes (2009), Alice in Wonderland 3-D (2010), and the Australian New Wave Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975).