IMDb > The Illusionist (2006)
The Illusionist
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The Illusionist (2006) More at IMDbPro »

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The Illusionist (2006) -- In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician (Norton) uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing.
The Illusionist (2006) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   81,265 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Neil Burger
Writers (WGA):
Neil Burger (screenplay)
Steven Millhauser (short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist")
Contact:
View company contact information for The Illusionist on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 SZEPTEMBER 2006 (USA) more
Tagline:
Nothing is what it seems
Plot:
In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations more
User Comments:
Like the Moody Blues song asks--"real or just an illusion?" more (577 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Edward Norton ... Eisenheim

Paul Giamatti ... Inspector Uhl

Jessica Biel ... Sophie

Rufus Sewell ... Crown Prince Leopold

Eddie Marsan ... Josef Fischer (as Edward Marsan)
Jake Wood ... Jurka
Tom Fisher ... Willigut

Aaron Johnson ... Young Eisenheim

Eleanor Tomlinson ... Young Sophie
Karl Johnson ... Doctor / Old Man
Vincent Franklin ... Loschek
Nicholas Blane ... Herr Doebler
Philip McGough ... Dr. Hofzinser

Erich Redman ... Count Rainer
Michael Carter ... Von Thurnburg
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence.
Runtime:
110 min
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | Dolby Digital

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The love scene was entirely lit by kerosene lamps. By the end of each take, the small room was filled with smoke that it was hard to see. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The necklace changes from hanging on a chain, to hanging on twine several times throughout the movie. more
Quotes:
Eisenheim: Everything you have seen here has been an illusion. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in JCVD (2008) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
98 out of 147 people found the following comment useful.
Like the Moody Blues song asks--"real or just an illusion?", 9 AUGUSZTUS 2006
9/10
Author: mkane5 from United States

Kind of a strange movie but very original and entertaining! It was a Gothic-romance period-piece drama-mystery, and quirky characters and a bizarre--or at least unusual--plot held my interest.

Edward Norton's character plays an inscrutable but romantic master illusionist. But is he just a master illusionist or has he developed powers to effect the creepy conjuring of those who have passed on? (Regardless, the guy is so easy on the eyes.)

Jessica Biel is beautiful and good in her role but I couldn't help thinking, "Hey, Jessica, Scarlett Johanssen called. She wants her lips back."

Paul Giamatti bothered me just a tad at first because he spoke in a near-whisper and had a scruffy beard so you couldn't read his lips. He got louder and his character developed pretty darned well, thank goodness. Actually, he was fantastic (so what else is new?).

The makers of this movie did the same thing the makers of Little Miss Sunshine did--made me want to see the film twice, but for different reasons: LMS because the first time I saw it, I laughed so hard I cried, and I really needed a laugh again (and got it); The Illusionist because I was like the audience for the title character's shows the first time I saw it--just kind of naive and awed and staring up at the action with my mouth hanging open. So I'll have to see it again and pay attention. Kind of like when my daughter told me to go see The Sixth Sense again and pay attention to what Bruce Willis's character was wearing. (Plot-wise, this is unrelated, folks--just a movie watcher's analogy.)

At first, the old-fashioned circle wipes seemed a little distracting, but in retrospect, they were part of the excellent movie-making decisions that created the illusion of time and place in this film. A really good story with really good art direction and really good actors, costumes and settings. Definitely worth a go-see--or two!

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Message Boards

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