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:

Love | Magician | Crown Prince | Magic | Police Inspector

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
Vanessa Gendron	...	Shouting Woman
Matthew Blood-Smyth	...	Man Who Incites Riot
David Forest	...	Traveling Magician
Laurie Athey	...	Aristocratic Boy
Oliver Blaha	...	Aristocratic Boy
Thomas McEnchroe	...	Aristocratic Boy
Andreas Grothusen	...	Eisenheim's Father
Brian Caspe	...	Eisenheim's Assistant
Ellen Savaria	...	Mrs. Uhl
Elias Zerael Bauer	...	Street Urchin Messenger (as Elias Bauer)
Dominik Havelka	...	Street Urchin
Robin Ferenc	...	Street Urchin
Vitezslav Bouchner	...	Sophie's Driver
David O'Kelly	...	Archduke
Richard Rowlands	...	Archduke
Sean Hall	...	Young Prince
Reuben-Henry Biggs	...	Frankel (as Rueben-Henry Biggs)
Vadam Bat-Orshikh	...	Asian Assistant
Purevdorj Boldsaikhan	...	Asian Assistant
Chen Feng	...	Asian Assistant
Sondom Nararbadrakh	...	Asian Assistant
Erdenbileg Sengee	...	Asian Assistant
Jan Cibulka	...	Boy Apparition on Stage
Fasihiddin Khasanov	...	Boy Apparition in Audience
Alfred Strejcek	...	Guard
Robert Russell	...	Spiritualist Leader
Noel le Bon	...	Arrested Man (as Noel Lebon)
David Fellowes	...	Respectable Man
Eve Kelemenova	...	Sobbing Woman (as Eva Kelemenova)
John Early	...	Man on Street
Jan Nemejovsky	...	Senior Officer
Ivo Novák	...	Senior Officer
Vladimir Kulhavy	...	Train Conductor
Nancy Bishop	...	Audience Member
Duke Faeger	...	Audience Member (as Dusan Fager)
Brendan Gunn	...	Audience Member
Ryan James	...	Audience Member
Alistair Macnaughtan	...	Audience Member (as Alistair Macnaughton)
Petr Meissel	...	Audience Member
Anezka Novak	...	Audience Member
Jeff Smith	...	Audience Member
Noelle Trkulja	...	Audience Member
Ivan Urbánek	...	Audience Member
Jiri Vacek	...	Audience Member
Jaroslav Vízner	...	Audience Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Babson	...	Young Father (uncredited)

Directed by
Neil Burger

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

Produced by
Jane Garnett	....	executive producer
Joey Horvitz	....	executive producer
Tom Karnowski	....	co-producer
Brian Koppelman	....	producer
David Levien	....	producer
Ted Liebowitz	....	executive producer
Michael London	....	producer
Chris Miller	....	post-production producer: Visionbox Media Group
David Minkowski	....	co-producer
Tom Nunan	....	executive producer
Cathy Schulman	....	producer
Matthew Stillman	....	co-producer
Bob Yari	....	producer

Original Music by
Philip Glass

Cinematography by
Dick Pope		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Naomi Geraghty

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Nina Gold
Mary Tricia Wood		(as Tricia Wood)

Production Design by
Ondrej Nekvasil

Art Direction by
Stefan Kovacik
Vlasta Svoboda

Set Decoration by
Petra Hábová

Costume Design by
Ngila Dickson

Makeup Department
Jan Archibald	....	hair designer
Libuse Barlova	....	hair person (as Liba Barlova)
Anita Burger	....	assistant to hair designer
Denise Dellavalle	....	makeup artist
Linda Dvorakova	....	key hair stylist
Václav Frank	....	makeup person
Dana Kohoutova	....	hair assistant: second unit
Ruzena Novotna	....	hair stylist
Julie Pearce	....	makeup department head
Hovette Stephanie	....	wig maker
Ivo Strangmüller	....	key makeup artist (as Ivo Strangmuller)

Production Management
Vaclav Eisenhamer	....	production supervisor
Jiri Husak	....	unit manager
Tom Karnowski	....	unit production manager
Robert Katz	....	executive in charge of production
Bill Newcomb	....	post-production supervisor: Visionbox Media Group
Louise Runge	....	post-production manager: Yari Film Group
Andrew Zolot	....	post-production supervisor: New York

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lucie Burianova	....	second second assistant director
Jakub Dvorak	....	second assistant director
Jan Mensik	....	first assistant director
Kieron Phipps	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jindra Budicek	....	set dresser: second unit
Jarda David	....	construction manager
Jiri Dusek	....	leadman
Jan Fiala	....	props: second unit
Petr Garbaczewski	....	set dresser
Stanislav Glugar	....	set dresser
Tomas Hais	....	props
Pavel Hemmy	....	property master
Mirek Holub	....	set dresser
Klara Holubova	....	assistant art director
Jiri Karnik	....	draftsman
Martin Kotek	....	set dresser
Vit Kramar	....	property master: second unit
Jan Kribek	....	graphic designer
Jirí Matolín	....	construction supervisor (as Jiri Matolin)
Stefan Mily	....	prop buyer
Miroslav Mraz	....	construction: second unit
Václav Novak	....	draftsman (as Vaclav Novak)
Milan Plesinger	....	set dresser: second unit
Vladimir Pribyslavsky	....	construction: second unit
Petr Richter	....	props
Michal Soun	....	draftsman
Darina Spevackova	....	draftsman
Jan Svoboda	....	art department coordinator
Daniel Tisl	....	set dresser
Dalibor Tvrznik	....	construction
Kurt Van Der Basch	....	storyboard artist
Josef Vecerek	....	set dresser
Pavel Werner	....	construction
Miroslav Zdenek	....	draftsman

Sound Department
Michael Babcock	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (as Mike Babcock)
Michael Babcock	....	sound designer
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Campbell)
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Tomas Cervenka	....	cable person
Eric Flickinger	....	sound recordist
Petr Forejt	....	sound mixer
Terry Garcia	....	assistant sound
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
J. Paul Huntsman	....	supervising sound editor
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer
Mark L. Mangino	....	dialogue editor (as Mark Mangino)
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound editor
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (as Alyson Moore)
Scott Morgan	....	foley recordist
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Reitz)
Roman Rigo	....	boom operator
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregory H. Watkins	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (as Greg Watkins)
Jörg Klaussner	....	dubbing mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Martin Busek	....	special effects technician: second unit
Ondrej Pryca	....	special effects technician
Roman Tudzaroff	....	special effects supervisor
Rudolf Tudzaroff	....	special effects senior technician

Visual Effects by
Sean Applegate	....	effects animator
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals (as Patrick Clancey)
Ales Dlabac	....	3D modeler and animator
Miro Gal	....	Flame operator
H Haden Hammond	....	digital compositor
H Haden Hammond	....	effects animator
Eva Jindráková	....	telecine coordinator (as Eva Jindrakova)
Ntana Key	....	second digital colorist: EFILM
Vít Komrzy	....	visual effects producer
Jirí Linhart	....	visual effects
Jan Malír Jr.	....	digital compositor (as Jan Malir)
Ivo Marak	....	hardware support
Ivo Marak	....	software support
Vladimír Matousek	....	digital compositor
Viktor Muller	....	visual effects supervisor
Peter Nemec	....	digital compositor
Gregory Oehler	....	senior Inferno artist (as Greg Oehler)
Alejandro Perez	....	dustbuster
Robert Pik	....	digital compositor
David Schoneveld	....	effects animator
Steven J. Scott	....	supervising digital colorist: EFilm
Danita Slaughter	....	digital opticals editor
Jiri Stamfest	....	matte painter
Ondrej Stibinger	....	telecine operator
Thomas H. Tonkin	....	storyboards
Jan Vseticek	....	visual effects coordinator
Daniel E. Zobrist	....	lead matchmover (as Daniel Zobrist)

Stunts
Romana Hajkova	....	horse master
Ladislav Lahoda	....	stunt coordinator
Miroslav Lhotka	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Petr Bakota	....	electrician
Dan Balzer	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit
Jan Carda	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Pavel Caslavsky	....	rigging gaffer
Václav Cermak	....	gaffer
Michal Chadima	....	video operator: second unit
Vladimir Cholasta	....	rigging best boy
Jirka Ctvrtecka	....	rigging grip
Petr Dvorak	....	rigging electrician
Jakub Dvorsky	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Artur Frys	....	grip: second unit
Ladislav Gallus	....	rigging electrician: second unit
David Gregor	....	rigging electrician
Marek Havel	....	central loader
Beda Hermanek	....	grip: second unit
Jan Hladik	....	dolly grip
Milan Hnizdil	....	rigging electrician: second unit
Pavel Hoffmann	....	rigging electrician
Jirka Horych	....	electrician
Jirí Hovorka	....	electrician: second unit (as Jiri Hovorka)
Jarda Hromadka	....	best boy
Jiri Hroz	....	electrician
Lukas Jaromersky	....	electrician
Hynek Jecha	....	rigging grip
Jirka Klaska	....	grip
Robert Kodera	....	key grip
Václav Korcik	....	rigging electrician (as Vaclav Korcik)
Jozef Kosut	....	rigging electrician (as Josef Kosut)
Karel Kralik	....	rigging electrician
Ivan Ksandr	....	best boy: second unit
Vaclav Ksandr	....	electrician: second unit
Roman Kuchar	....	best boy grip
Jarda Kunasek	....	grip: second unit
Zbynek Kunc	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Daniel Kutaj	....	electrician
Radek Kuzdas	....	dimmer operator
Martin Maryska	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit
Martin Maryska	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Otto Matejka	....	camera loader: second unit (as Oto Matejka)
Juraj Menzik	....	rigging electrician
Jiri Navrátil	....	rigging gaffer (as Jiri Navratil)
Jirka Nosek	....	rigging electrician
Jirka Novak	....	rigging electrician
Milan Novak	....	rigging grip
Vaclav Novak	....	rigging electrician: second unit
Vlasta Plucar	....	electrician
Jirka Pospisil	....	additional grip
Jan Pous	....	grip: second unit
Ervin Sanders	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Martin Schmarc	....	cable man: second unit
Karel Schneiberg	....	video operator
Jaromir Simek	....	gaffer: second unit
Jan Smolik	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit
Petr Svoboda	....	electrician: second unit
Ronald Telinger	....	video cable man
David Treybal	....	rigging electrician (as David Trejbal)
Martin Vejvoda	....	head technician
Benjamin Vitek	....	electrician
Dalibor Vlachy	....	electrician: second unit
Vít Vondrácek	....	rigging electrician (as Vitek Vondracek)
Glen Wilson	....	still photographer
Petr Zavrel	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera

Animation Department
Gary Hebert	....	animator: title animation

Casting Department
Nancy Bishop	....	casting: Prague
Jirí Hrstka	....	extras casting
Joel Kirby	....	casting assistant: Berlin
Jennifer Ricchiazzi	....	casting associate
Georgia Simon	....	adr voice casting
Noelle Trkulja	....	casting assistant: Prague
Olga Záhorbenská	....	casting associate (as Olga Zahorbenska)
Stephen Moore	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Jennifer L. Smith	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Milena Adamová	....	seamstress (as Milena Adamova)
Iva Bártová	....	wardrobe assistant (as Iva Bartova)
Marie Charvatova	....	wardrobe assistant
Libby Dempster	....	costume textile artist
Sian Evans	....	head stand-by costumer
Miroslav Fantys	....	assistant to wardrobe supervisor (as Mirek Fantys)
Karolina Jirova	....	costumer: extras
Alena Koucka	....	set costumer
Liba Malerova	....	set costumer: second unit
Liz McGregor	....	assistant costume designer
Katerina Mirová	....	set costumer: second unit (as Katerina Mirova)
Vera Mirová	....	wardrobe supervisor
Petr Pluhar	....	set costumer
Katerina Polanska	....	set costumer
Ladislav Procházka	....	set costumer (as Ladiuslav Prochazka)
Jitka Svecova	....	costumer: extras
Nancy Thompson	....	assistant costume designer
Helena Vitoulová	....	seamstress (as Helena Vitoulova)
Barbora Wildova	....	wardrobe interpreter (as Bara Wildova)

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer (as Kenny Beker)
Ntana Key	....	digital colorist assistant
Attila Kovacs	....	assistant editor: avid
Esther Lee	....	assistant digital intermediate producer
Martha Pike	....	digital intermediate editor
John Portnoy	....	post-production executive: Yari Film Group
Steven J. Scott	....	supervising digital film colorist (as Steve Scott)
Russ Senzatimore	....	second assistant editor
Lorene Simpson	....	digital intermediate producer
Arturo Sosa	....	first assistant editor
Charlie Wiel	....	post-production coordinator: Yari Film Group

Music Department
Dan Bora	....	score mix engineer
John Carbonara	....	assistant music editor
Pavel Ciboch	....	music preparation
Richard Glasser	....	music executive: Yari Film Group
Zdena Pelikanova	....	orchestral contractor
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Michael Riesman	....	conductor
Alice Wood	....	additional music editor

Transportation Department
Michal Bares	....	driver
Radek Benda	....	driver: second unit
Jan Bohata	....	driver: principal
Pavel Chadima	....	driver
Petr Chocholaty	....	driver
Jiri Dolejsi	....	driver
Lukas Ferkl	....	driver: principal
Petr Hlavacek	....	driver
Petr Juran	....	driver
Václav Kocman	....	driver (as Vaclav Kocman)
Ivan Kosiar	....	driver
Jirka Kovarik	....	driver
Miloslav Krfalek	....	driver
Jan Kuzelik	....	driver
Jirí Marek	....	driver (as Jiri Marek)
Miloslav Mocek	....	driver: principal
Ondrej Modry	....	driver: principal
Tomas Modry	....	driver
Dusan Pelech	....	driver: principal
Joseph C. Pokorny	....	driver (as Josef Pokorny)
Lada Poledno	....	driver
Pavel Raftl	....	driver
Roland Safr	....	driver
Lada Simacek	....	driver
Pavel Simek	....	driver
Frantisek Sladek	....	driver: second unit
Libor Spachmann	....	driver (as Libor Spachman)
Tomás Sterba	....	driver (as Tomas Sterba)
Jirka Stetka	....	driver
Lada Szucs	....	driver
Richard Trtek	....	driver
Bohous Urban	....	driver
Lada Vacik	....	driver
Ruda Vanac	....	driver
Robert Vaska	....	driver: second unit
Pavel Voracek	....	transportation captain
Milos Wild	....	driver
Richard Wild	....	driver
Libor Zednik	....	driver
Pavel Zoubek	....	driver

Other crew
Laura Atkins	....	post-production accountant: Post Accountants Inc.
Petr Bastar	....	assistant location manager
Aaron Baum	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
Christina Born	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
Kelly Brant	....	assistant: Mr Koppelman and Mr Levein
Stephan Burle	....	title designer: main titles
Adam Christian	....	assistant: Ms Garnett
Martin Cigler	....	set production assistant
Hana Duplinska	....	assistant: Mr Burger (as Hanka Duplinska)
David Eisenhamer	....	production assistant
Juliana Farrell	....	assistant: Mr. London (as Juliana E. Farrell)
Julio Ferrario	....	title designer: main titles
Anna Francis	....	assistant unit publicist: DDA Public Relations Ltd.
James Freedman	....	magic consultant
Ingo Gardner	....	balloon operator
Milan Garncarz	....	set medic
Kelli Gillam	....	post-production accountant
Kelli Gillam-Woolfolk	....	post-production accountant: Post Accountants Inc. (as Kelli Gilliam Woolfolk)
Rick Gold	....	legal department assistant: Yari Film Group (as Richard Gold)
Pamela B. Green	....	title designer: main titles (as Pamela Green)
Brendan Gunn	....	head dialect coach
Jack W. Haddox	....	production controller (as Jack Haddox)
Romana Hajkova	....	horse master
Andrea Hanson	....	assistant: Mr. Yari, Yari Film Group
Gary Hebert	....	title designer: main titles
Viera Hladisova	....	assistant accountant
Lenka Hojková	....	script supervisor: second unit (as Lenka Hojkova)
Jana Hrbková	....	payroll clerk (as Jana Hrbkova)
Mira Husseini	....	film publicist
David Hutkin	....	production financing: ICB Entertainment Finance
Ricky Jay	....	technical advisor: magic
Tomas Jeseticky	....	caterer: second unit
Julia Jones	....	senior vice president: DDA Public Relations Ltd.
Laine R. Kline	....	business & legal affairs executive: Yari Film Group (as Laine Kline)
Tomas Kreisl	....	account cashier
Michael J. Linowes	....	legal counsel: Linowes & Burkin
John Bard Manulis	....	chief executive officer: Visionbox Media Group (as John Manulis)
Vera Matousova	....	production coordinator
Frantisek Mesícek	....	armorer: second unit (as Frantisek Mesicek)
Zbynek Mrkous	....	manager: base camp
Nico Muhly	....	assistant: Mr. Glass and Mr. Riesman
Susan Muir	....	completion bond: Film Finances Inc.
Buckley Norris	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
Olina Pekna	....	set medic
Maureen Pennison	....	movement coach
Scott Penrose	....	magic consultant
Petr Petovsky	....	production runner
Marketa Poruba	....	production secretary (as Marketa Porubova)
Jitka Prochazkova	....	assistant location manager
Andrea Puschova	....	file clerk
Tomas Radolf	....	balloon technician
Greg Reynard	....	title designer: main titles
Petr Riha	....	manager: base camp
Justin Hamilton Salem	....	set production assistant
Edgar Sandoval	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
Katerina Silna	....	production coordinator
Jiri Sisak	....	consultant: decorum and etiquette
Petr Skvor	....	assistant location manager
Shelly Strong	....	production executive: Yari Film Group
Daniel Stutz	....	business and legal affairs executive
Dana Supkova	....	set medic
Vivian Tarn	....	production financing: ICB Entertainment Finance
Carsten Thoms	....	balloon operator
Jiri Tichacek	....	production accountant
Greg Trattner	....	completion bond: Film Finances Inc. (as Gregory Trattner)
Silvana Tropea	....	assistant: Mr. Norton
Susie Tullett	....	unit publicist: DDA Public Relations Ltd.
Jarda Vaculik	....	location manager
Jarik Van Sluijs	....	title designer: main titles
Alex Vonhungen	....	assistant: Laine Kline, Yari Film Group
Ian Watermeier	....	staff coordinator: Yari Film Group
Michael Weber	....	technical advisor: magic
Randy Weiss	....	production executive: Visionbox Media Group
Deborah Wettstein	....	finance executive: Yari Film Group
Todd Williams	....	production executive: Yari Film Group
Lori Wyant	....	script supervisor
Dale Wyatt	....	dialect coach
Franta Zunt	....	craft service
Vaclav Zunt	....	caterer
Steve Fletcher	....	tutor (uncredited)
Michael Giannantonio	....	technical consultant: magic (uncredited)
Jarin Rossiter	....	business affairs coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Bull's Eye Entertainment
• Bob Yari Productions
• Contagious Entertainment
• Michael London Productions
• Stillking Films

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (2006) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Yari Film Group Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Videocine S.A. de C.V. (2006) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Archer Entertainment Asia Pacific (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• DesperaDo (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Digital Site Corporation (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2007) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Freestyle Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2006) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Odeon Films (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• New City Releasing (2006) (USA) (TV)
• Starz! Network (2007) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Universal Production Partners (UPP) (visual effects)
• Vulcan Effects (special effects) (as Vulcan FX)
• Dynamic FX Limited (magician consultancy)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance provided by
• ARRI  thanks
• ARRI Media  cameras
• Arri Rental  grip and lighting equipment
• Balloon-Light  thanks
• CE VideoAssist Rental  VideoAssist equipment provided by
• CNSO Studios  recording studio
• Commotion Records  soundtrack
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  color
• Czech Film Orchestra  score performed by
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color
• Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)  unit publicity
• Dynamic FX Limited  magician consultants
• EFilm  digital intermediate (as E-Film)
• EXTRAfilms S.r.o.  extras casting
• Film Finance  completion bond provided by (as Film Finances Inc.)
• Film Laboratory Barrandov  thanks (as Barrandov Studios Film Laboratories)
• Filmové Studio Barrandov  thanks (as Barrandov Studios Set Construction Department)
• ICB Entertainment Finance  production financing provided by
• Imperial Capital Bank  production financing provided by
• JTV Catering  catering: second unit
• Linowes & Burkin  legal counsel
• Looking Glass Studios  music mixed at (as The Looking Glass Studios, New York)
• Negative People  negative cutting
• PIC Agency  main titles design (as PIC)
• Panavision  cranes provided by
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Post Accounts  post-production accounting provided by
• Rykodisc  soundtrack
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Soundelux  sound editorial services
• Stillking Films  production services: Czech Republic
• Stunt Team Filmka  stunt performers (as Filmka Srunt Team)
• Visionbox Media Group  post-production supervision and services
• Warner Bros. Sound  post-production sound supervision and editorial (as Warner Brothers Sound Services)
• Warner Bros. Sound  sound re-recording services (as Warner Brothers Sound Services)
• Zet Catering  catering

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:

The character of Eisenheim is closely based on the magician and supposed clairvoyant Erik Jan Hanussen, who was famous in Vienna in the early part of the 20th century and was murdered by Nazi soldiers in 1933.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the train station, the green trains have large, white, bold lettering in Helvetica, a font invented in 1957.

Quotes:

Chief Inspector Uhl: As a boy, I'm told, he had a chance encounter with a travelling magician. One version of the story was that the man himself vanished... along with the tree. People began to think he had some sort of special power... or at least that he was a bit different. And then he met her.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: (#3.6)" (2006)

This is not a Review. This is only an Illusion.

"The Illusionist" is a unique film that combines two often stale genres into something fresh: the lush romantic period piece and the "AHA!" mystery thriller (a genre M. Night Shamalyan has single-handedly run into the ground recently). Helmed by a first time director (Neil Burger), based on a short story, and featuring an eclectic cast, "The Illusionist" had the perfect set-up to be a monumental disaster. With a graceful slight-of-hand, it ends up being something very good.

As with any run-of-the-mill period piece, there's a lavish attention to the set designs and costumes, here representing late nineteenth century Vienna. Director Burger puts a nice spin on the same-old, same-old with an acute attention to lighting (especially in the dreamily over-exposed flashbacks) and old fashioned camera techniques (witness the circular camera's eye closing to transition from scenes) to give the film the feel of being a fond memory of a classic movie from a bygone era.

The central romance where Edward Norton's title character and Jessica Biel's Dutchess are star-crossed lovers kept apart because of class and society, had all the makings of a snore-inducing cheese-athon. Executed in an understated manner that services the greater plot, it ends up being anything but. Norton's performance, especially in the second half of the film when he turns into a man of very few words, had the potential to be one-note. As an actor, he speaks volumes with his eyes. Biel, a former teen idol and TV star, seemed a horrific choice for this role. She pulls of the nifty trick of being quite good. Even better are Rufus Sewell as the tyrannical crown-prince and Paul Giamatti as the chief inspector. Using a short story as the source material, characterizations had the potential to be paper-thin, but these seasoned veterans make the most of their lines and scenes adding terror, humor, and gravitas through their vocal and physical deliveries where lesser actors would've been wooden and cold. The entire cast also worked together very well utilizing their odd, vaguely European and aristorcatic accent. Everyone used it so consistently and earnestly, it didn't seem to matter after awhile that the accent was unnecessary.

A more over-eager or pretentious director may have completely sabotaged the fantastic ending to "The Illusionist" and cheated the audience. Handled deftly by Burger, the grande finale where "all is revealed" is a wholly organic and satisfying conclusion that rewards the patient viewer and fulfills the lofty promises of the themes presented throughout the work.

"The Illusionist" boasts an excellent music score from minimalist composer Phillip Glass that easily rivals his great work done in "Candyman" and "The Hours." Norton and Giamatti treat us to some of the best "staring" since the days of silent films. The look on Giamatti's face and the positioning of his raised eyebrows as he watches Norton perform his illusions coupled with Norton's eyes as he pulls off his tricks are priceless.