Now that the action-packed films and anticipated sequels of the summer have left theatres, the current fall movie selection may seem to be a bit bland. This is not the case, however. Among the good-intentioned but typical batch of inspirational sports movies like Invincible and Gridiron Gang is The Illusionist, a unique and powerful film that is well worth your ten dollars on a Friday night.

Based on Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist," the film brings to life the story of a talented magician, Eisenheim (Edward Norton), living in Vienna at the turn of the century. After years of separation, he falls in love with a childhood friend, the Duchess Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel) following a chance meeting. Although Sophie is betrothed to the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus
Sewell), who hires a snooping inspector (Paul Giamatti) to destroy the career of Eisenheim, the latter uses his illusionist and creative trickery to secure Sophie's love.

The basic storyline with forbidden love between two individuals of unequal status is a bit cliché, but elements of intrigue, romance, murder, and a surprise twist ending keep the audience interested throughout the entirety of the film. The phenomenal acting by Norton and Giamatti certainly were the highlight, and Biel took a surprisingly strong step forward in her transition from her bubble pop 7th Heaven typecast to a serious dramatic actress. Instead of flashy action sequences and a fluff script, The Illusionist plays more sophisticated tricks with the eyes and conjured magic as well as supernatural powers are weaved throughout the script, giving the film a strong unique quality that currently cannot be found in any other film in theatres. Despite these strong qualities, the chemistry between Biel and Norton is a bit awkward, perhaps because of the age difference and do not expect dynamic characters that change dramatically by the end of the film. Instead, enjoy the real emotions evoked by the actors, phenomenal technical aspects (i.e. costumes, cinematography, etc.), and a rich and concise depiction of the original short story. The illusions that the film creates will keep you guessing and captivated till the very end.

[Go Back]