Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This Rough Magic, 22 Jul 2007
I was determined not to like this movie! After all, I merely bought it on sale as a second used DVD so that I could get two for the price of one. However, "The Illusionist" turned out to be far better than the well-touted movie that I bought in the first place. Furthermore, after the first few minutes, I found myself becoming totally absorbed in the suspenseful story, which is well acted (Perhaps Edward Norton's openhanded gesture as the brooding illusionist Eisenstein cast a hypnotic spell over me!). I especially liked Paul Giamatti as the cynical Inspector Uhl. The costumes are splendid (except for the ugly jodhpurs that Jessica Biel wears in the otherwise romantic last scene). In the rest of the movie, she is lovely, as are the "Viennese" settings of Prague. I was so engaged by Eisenstein's magic-lantern illusions (aided by Philip Glass's moody musical score) that I suspended my disbelief (especially my sharply-honed sense of historical disbelief!) and was both surprised and delighted by the ending. My only real complaint has to do with the over-saturation of the colors in the cinematography. As the director explains in the commentary (which demonstrates that magic explained is no longer magic), the color was processed in such a way to give the film an antique look, but the fact that I was constantly aware of this particular special effect indicates that it might have been overdone. This quibble, however, is a minor one in a film which I enjoyed immensely, simply by accepting it at face value.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A new old fairy tale, 26 Mar 2007
Young Sophie (Eleanor Tomlinson) upper class is enamored of budding illusionist son of a carpenter (Aaron Johnson.) They are forcibly separated. Destined to meat again in the future as Edward Norton and Jessica Biel, their actions may have an effect of the future history of Europe.
I guess as an audience we are jaded with the onslaught of ghost stories and seeing dead people that the story and outcome was pretty much predictable, not that anyone took too much effort to hide. At least a fact or butler did not pop out of the closet at the last minute.
However the presentation was excellent with the film having a slight flicker that hand cranked quality to it. The story is told third had by Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti.) The music that accompanies the film was by Philip Glass. Once again Rufus Sewell (Fortinbras "Hamlet -1996") does an excellent portrayal of Crown Prince Leopold.
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21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An atmospheric love story and "twist" film that doesn't quite deliver... , 11 Jan 2007
Beautifully realized with some of the most luscious cinematography recently seen in a period piece, The Illusionist is all about the grand illusion and whether what you're actually seeing on screen is actually what you're getting. Well, the final twist in this movie does come is indeed a bit of a surprise, it's just a pity that the journey to get there is so flat and lacking in tension.
Whilst the Illusionist has plenty of drama, unfortunately the plodding direction and the leaden storyline end up weighing this film down, so consequently the only things that are really intriguing is the production design, which wonderfully recreates early 20th century Vienna, and Paul Giamatti's sly performance as police inspector Uhl who investigates the titular illusionist and masterful magician Eisenheim (Edward Norton).
For most of his life the enigmatic Eisenheim has been harboring feelings for the beautiful Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel), But she's about to marry Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). The crown prince is intrigued over Eisenheim's capacities and the fact that he can make orange trees grow and conjure up the spirits of the dead. Not to be outwitted, he becomes embarrassed when Eisenheim embarrassed him in front of his bride to be.
When Leopold fails to unlock the mystery behind Eisenheim's illusions in front of his assembled guests, he charges Chief Inspector Uhl with the task of digging up something on the dubious unknown. The stage is set for a battle of competitive wits between Eisenheim and Leopold as they both vie for the affections of Sophie.
At its heart, The Illusionist is basically a love story so it's unfortunate that there's so little chemistry between Norton and Biel. Norton is a great actor, but here he comes across as rather deadpan and boring and he's not very convincing as a romantic lead. He seems miscast - perhaps a British actor such as Jeremy Northam or Rupert Everett would have been better in the role.
Whilst Writer-director Neil Burger does a good job of displaying Eisenheim's sleight-of-hand - the theatrical scenes are rightfully ghostly and atmospheric; but the effects are mostly silly and preposterous, and also often heavy-handed, and the whole film has moments when it stalls.
Giamatti and Sewell really terrific and they end up stealing the show right from under Norton. Also, if Sophie and really want is just to be together, that makes the film's final hour relatively pointless since it's all about punishing another character whose supposedly evil plans to take over the Empire are not really expounded on as well as they could have been.
Apparently, Burger adapted the movie from a short story and his script certainly feels padded, as if he was working overtime to extend a half-hour narrative to feature length. The end result is a missed opportunity; The Illusionist is a visually sumptuous film, but it's ultimately mired by a lack of tension and by heavy-handed direction that makes it boring when it should by exiting. Mike Leonard January 07.
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