The Illusionist (2006)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Neil Burger

Writers (WGA):

Neil Burger (screenplay)
Steven Millhauser (short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist")

Release Date:

1 SZEPTEMBER 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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.

Plot Keywords:

Vienna | Magician | Love | Crown Prince | Magic

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Czech Republic | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Brazil:14 | Ireland:12A | UK:PG | France:U | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Norway:11 | Denmark:11 | Sweden:7

Filming Locations:

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Company:

Bull's Eye Entertainment

Trivia:

So that the crew would not have to use CGI to "fake" the magical illusions seen in the movie, Norton received intensive training in sleight of hand and other stage magic techniques from British magician James Freedman and American magician Ricky Jay.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Near the end of the film, Chief Inspector Uhl is in Prince Leopold's office. In the close-up scene when the two argue, you can clearly view the boom mic, going from one character to the other, in the reflection on the brass table lamp.

Quotes:

Chief Inspector Uhl: Promise me you won't do it again.
Eisenheim: I promise you you'll enjoy this next show.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in JCVD (2008)

Like the movies themselves, all smoke and mirrors...

Movies are like buses. You wait for ages and then two come along at once. Take, for example, DEEP IMPACT and Armageddon (cobbled together these two would have made a decent movie, which separately, neither of them did), or ROBIN HOOD PRINCE OF THIEVES and Bergin's ROBIN HOOD. Strangely, or perhaps magically, it's the same with movies about late 19th century magicians. In September/October 2006, within ten days of each other, we had THE ILLUSIONIST and THE PRESTIGE, both tales of rivalry, revenge and the quest to discover the secrets behind the magic.

Childhood sweethearts Eisenheim and Sophie, peasant's son and aristocrat respectively, are forbidden to meet because of the class difference between them. Eisenhiem travels the world and returns to Vienna a world renowned stage magician. Sophie by this time is betrothed to Crown Prince Leopold. Leopold is fascinated by Eisenheim's 'tricks' and orders a private performance so that he might demonstrate his cleverness to his peers by exposing Eisenheim. The magician however turns the tables during this 'demonstration', and, having been made a fool of in front of his colleagues, and especially Sophie, Leopold enlists Inspector Uhl to discover the secrets behind Eisenheim's magic and/or shut him down. Tragedy eventually and inevitably strikes and Eisenheim turns his skills toward the thwarting of Leopold's political plans and his complete downfall.

The film is beautifully shot and the period is captured superbly. There were a few slow passages but the ensemble cast work well together, particularly Sewell and Giamatti. Norton does have moments of looking spaced out rather than enigmatic, but the ending was totally satisfying and, to me at any rate, completely unanticipated, which makes a pleasant change.

A superior film in my view to THE PRESTIGE, which veered into Mary Shelley/science fiction territory, whereas the magic in THE ILLUSIONIST is simply that – illusion. Like the movies themselves, all smoke and mirrors.

Recommended.