The Illusionist
"The Illusionist", written and directed by Neil Burger, has an excellent period look, haunting magical film noir, a Hercule Pirot mystery aura, and the sensual persona of the cast, and scores an A...
As a reviewer, the opportunity to see a movie more than once often presents itself. The question becomes do I want to. The films that I have viewed more than once is, for me, an indication that is has passed that secondary stage of being a lot better than above average. "The Illusionist", which has my record of 3 screenings, is at the top of my list of favorite films of 2006! What are the others so far? "V for Vendetta", "An Inconvenient Truth", and "Thank You For Smoking" have had multiple screenings by this reviewer. Readers of my reviews have asked me, what is that a special criterion that sets certain films apart from the others. A few quick items come to mind, like the look. Does it fell like the period or time frame it represents? Plausibility relating to reality, cinematic style, story coherency, is each cast member equally convincing in their roles for the ensemble flavor of the total, and how deeply, good or bad, did the film stir my emotional psyche. "The Illusionist" has it all, a good love story that spans 20 years, mysterious plot twists, stunning scenic design that captures the 1900's lifestyle, a "Hercule Pirot" (Agatha Christi's sleuth) style chief detective caught between wanting to do the right thing and holding on to his job, and, the polished yet despicable nemesis who will stop at absolutely nothing to achieve his goal. "The Illusionist" has them all, nicely packaged into 109 minutes that held me mesmerized from beginning to end, for all three screenings...
As regular readers know, it is my custom not to give away vital clues, plot twists or endings so that, should you choose to see a film, you'll have virtually the same first time view of events that I did. "The Illusionist" falls into the category that "The Sixth Sense" or "The Crying Game" did, with clues and an ending that stirs one's emotions. I will say that there was applause the end, which is a rarity these days...
The setting is 1900's Vienna. A carpenter's son, (Aaron Johnson) about 15 years old, happens upon a traveling magician. So moved by what he experienced for that brief moment, decides to learn & practice slight-of-hand tricks, relentlessly, as he goes about his daily errands. While on one of those errands, he meets the young princess Sophie (Eleanor Tomlinson). Clandestine meetings ensue, and of course, they are discovered. More importantly, he is of the working class, she is royalty, and that just isn't proper, or allowed. The young couple ignore the warnings until the young carpenter is driven from the city.
For the next fifteen years the young carpenter traveled the world gathering and practicing the secrets of magic and illusions. Under the performing name of Eisenheim, The Illusionist (Edward Norton in a mesmerizing performance!) arrives in Vienna. Attending a performance at the grand auditorium is the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell at his despicable nemesis best!) and, Sophie (Jessica Beil). When Eisenheim asks the audience for a volunteer for one of his illusions, the Crown Prince offers Sophie. When Sophie takes the stage, Eisenheim immediately recognizes her as his childhood sweetheart. Sophie not recognizing him performs the illusion. The Crown Prince, forever the pompous aristocrat invites Eisenheim to give a performance at the royal estate and a challenge to unmask the secrets. Eisenheim accepts and at the performance Sophie recognizes Eisenheim, the Crown Prince is highly embarrassed by one of Eisenheim' s illusions, and commissions Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti in an excellent portrayal comparable to Agatha Christi's "Hercule Pirot") to shut Eisenheim down. What ensues is a cat-and-mouse tour-de-force battle of the seen and unseen with Sophie caught in the middle.
As is my custom of not giving away clues, plot twists or the ending, "The Illusionist" provides 109 minutes of great movie making, excellent ensemble cast performances, and a story that has one trying to decipher the subtle clues, and, taking a deep breath of exhilaration at the end. I can hardly wait to see it, again...
Grade: A
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