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DVD The Illusionist (Full Screen Edition)
The Illusionist offers welcome proof that "arthouse" quality needn't be limited to the arthouses. Set in turn-of-the-century Vienna, this stately, elegant period film benefited from a crossover release in mainstream cinemas, and showed considerable box-office staying power--granted, teenage mallrats and lusty males may have been drawn to the allure of Seventh Heaven alumna Jessica Biel, who rises to the occasion with a fine performance. But there's equal appeal in the casting of Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, who bring their formidable talents to bear on the intriguing tale of a celebrated magician named Eisenheim (Norton) whose stage performance offends the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), a vindictive lout who aims to marry Duchess Sophie (Biel), Eisenheim's childhood friend and now, 15 years later, his would-be lover. This romantic rivalry and Eisenheim's increasingly enigmatic craft of illusion are investigated by Chief Inspector Uhl (Giamatti), who's under Leopold's command and is therefore not to be trusted as Eisenheim and Sophie draw closer to their inevitable reunion. Cleverly adapted by director Neil Burger from Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist," and boasting exquisite production values and a fine score by Philip Glass, The Illusionist is the kind of class act that fully deserved its unusually wide and appreciative audience. --Jeff Shannon
Review(s): DVD The Illusionist (Full Screen Edition)
It looks better than it is.
Neil Burger is a very talented filmmaker, but what you have with THE ILLUSIONIST is all of the trappings of a major motion picture and none of the substance. Part of the problem is that in an age where a whole generation of moviegoers has become used to the techniques of digital effects in movies, the ones employed in this movie simply don't bowl you over because they've been used so many times recently. And it makes it that much more difficult to suspend disbelief and imagine the 19th century audience watching Eisenheim's magic act gasping and being astounded at what they see. The other flaw, though, is that the plot (which I won't give away) has enough holes to drive a truck through, holes that attempt to be dressed up by beautiful if vapid cinematography and editing that would do most television commercials proud. That may seem unfair, but this whole movie works at the level of a television commercial, serving up the implausible in a handsome package that wraps everything up neatly at the end....NOT.
Sorry, but this is an empty film, and everyone associated with it are capable of much better.
OUTSTANDING IN ALL RESPECTS!!!
This movie is absolutely beautiful. I am not even going to go on about Edward Norton's performance-he is my favorite actor anyway ever since the "Primar Fear". I was pleasantly surprised how a fresh-faced teen Jessica Biel gave such a solid performance of an aristocratic lady. She has done an amazing job. Paul Giamatti's character offers an excellent glimpse into a soul that is divided between his open loyalty to the crown prince and his secret admiration for Eisenheim. Rufus Sewell does a mean, mean job of portraying the prince, you cannot help but hate the bastard, another great job. When the movie was over, I was speechless.
A Wonderfully Enjoyable Gem
A good story, great acting, beautful sets, great costumes, special effects.. this movie has it all!
It's a clever story. You sort of know how it will end, but it moves so quickly its always two steps ahead of your ideas on how it all ties up.
This movie didn't shake up the box office. The Oscars will pass it by. The neglect is not deserved.
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