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| Movie Review |
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The Illusionist
- In theaters August 18th, 2006
- Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence.
- Run Time : 110 Min
- 4 1/4 out of 5
Review by Jennifer Pflughaupt
To listen to Jennifer's interview with writer/director
Neil Burger click here.
“The Illusionist”, starring some of the finest names in
Hollywood, had the privilege to perform in what is a
stellar classic in today’s time adapted and directed
by first time moviemaker Neil Berger. Eisenheim
(Edward Norton) plays an imaginative, yet dark and
lonely illusionist/magician with a broken heart from a
childhood romance. His love had been ripped away
from his fingertips when he was just a boy and he
was forbidden to ever see her again because he was
the son of a carpenter and her family was royalty.
His theater of choice is in the heart of Vienna during
the turn of the 20th century. His audiences are
consistent but lacking a full house until one night the
sinister Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) and his
fiancé Sophie (Jessica Biel) decide to grace
Eisenheim’s theater with their presence for a night
out on the town. Eisenheim gets a guest from the
audience on stage to perform his final illusion. Sophie
is volunteered by her husband-to-be and low and
behold Eisenheim immediately recognizes her and
comes to the sobering realization that his long lost
love is within reach.
“The Illusionist” flows at a steady pace and intrigues
the mind throughout the entire length of the film.
The question to the story is not “how is this story
going to end” but rather “how will the story get to
the end”. You immediately fall in love with
Eisenheim. Edward Norton gives an incredible
performance with an intensity that most actors do
not possess. He pierces through your heart and soul
just by a gaze with his deep, dark eyes. It is rare
that Norton performs in a love story, but there could
not have been a more ideal role to fit his disposition.
A delightful addition to the cast is Paul Giamatti as
the pivotal Chief Inspector Uhl who shares with us
Eisenheim’s quest for love through his investigations.
With no surprise, Giamatti gives a superb
performance and is long overdue for the recognition
he deserves.
Along with the sensational acting and storyline, the
cinematography was breathtaking. At times I
thought I was watching a film from the turn of the
century instead of a film from 2006. It was
remarkable and was one of the most artistic major
motion pictures I have ever seen. These days
romantic love stories are far and few between that
stay true to a fairy tale type beauty. Neil Berger hit
the nail on the head and for this to be his first real
major cinematic release makes me very excited to
see what he has in store for us next. I give the film 4
and ¼ growing orange trees out of 5.
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Jennifer is a freelance film critic with an overloaded
life. She has a rock star husband, a 2 year old
daughter, a military career in the U.S. Air Force
Reserves, and she is also a full time student at UNT
working towards getting her degree in kicking butt and
taking names. Some of her favorite films are “Heart
of the Game”, “The Lords of Dogtown”, “American
History X”, “The Boondock Saints”, “Miss
Congeniality”, “The United States of Leland” , “Return
to Me” and “Thank You for Smoking”. You can check
out her personal information, plus read her writings
and
reviews on Myspace .
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