The Illusionist
THE ILLUSIONIST: AN ILLUSION OF A GOOD MOVIE
The Illusionist has the making of a good film. A promising beginning captivates you and tricks you into believing that it will continue to do so. Edward Norton brings his usual intensity to the title character. Dramatic settings emulate the magic he performs. But the ending and one cartoonish character leaves you feeling tricked.
Eisenehim (Edward Norton) is a famous illusionist in Vienna. His show attracts the attention of the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). When Leopold sends his fiancée Sophie (Jessica Biel) on stage during one of Eisenheim’s shows, Eiseneheim realizes that she is his childhood love that was taken from him. When Leopold is informed that Sophie and Eisenehim have a connection, he sends Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) to follow him. This begins a cat and mouse game between Eisenheim and Uhl.
The story unfolds dramatically with Eiseneheim’s beginning. It tells of a young man who captures the heart of Sophie and loses her because of their place in society. His supposed encounter with a magician when he was young is only enhanced by a background of golden skies and fields. But when the Crown Prince Leopold is introduced, the film loses you. Rufus Sewell is stereotyped as a villain and this movie is no exception. He is cartoonish with no layers and a horrendous mustache. Paul Giamatti gives a so-so performance as the blowhard inspector with an accent that comes and goes. But the film never loses its power with the settings. The theaters where Eiseneheim performs and the hallway of mounted animals in the Crown Prince’s castle will give you goose bumps. But the movie loses its steam when you guess the trick before the climax.
Improvements to the film could have been made in terms of its villain and big finish. Rufus Sewell needed a better written character or Neil Burger needed to get a different actor who could show more than one side of him. To leave you guessing even after the movie ends would have been more suitable as opposed to revealing its secrets before the finale.
The Illusionist starts off as a better than average drama. It is beautifully shot in the Czech Republic. Sadly, you are cheated out of a good movie halfway in. A hollow villain and unfulfilling story makes sure of this and leaves you wondering how you believed to begin with.
Report Card:
Story-C+
Acting-B
Visuals-B+
Originality/Innovation-C
Enjoyability Grade–C+
DVD Extras-C
Overall Grade-C+
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