Renowned director Douglas Baines takes pause for a rare moment of self-reflection at the end of his life. Master of the romantic pictures, Baines himself never married and was emotionally unable to claim the child born of an on-set affair. Now on his deathbed, he is troubled by thoughts of the son he never came forth to claim. The son, Christopher, is haunted by the knowledge that his father never wanted him. Now, surrounded by hospice staff, Baines seems ready to admit defeat until Stan, the
best editor Baines ever had, arrives with difficult news. Realizing that the end is closer than he imagined, Baines is forced to choose between letting the scene end tragically or stepping forward to right past wrongs.
Douglas does his best acting while watching and reacting to what he sees on screen. If this ends up being his cinematic swan song, it will not have been a bad way to go.
Unavoidably, there are some sugary moments and clichés such as rain-soaked kisses and outlandish "artistic" stage performances, but [Illusion] keeps hold of that just-another-day-in-Hollywood feeling.
There's a sincerity to the filmmaking here that's at times quite touching: Illusion presents a portrait of true love that's as picture perfect as the sunny spring garden in which we see Isabelle.
Several of its transitions are glaringly contrived, and its morality tale never quite comes together to be the shattering spiritual experience it wants to be.
It's a joy to see Kirk Douglas on screen again. That's not quite enough to make this...recommendable, but it's a reason you might want to take a look at it despite the flaws.
The unabashed melodrama of the flashbacks and present-day climax can't compete with the theatrical oomph provided by Douglas and Marasco...at the picture's spine.
This movie blew my mind. It shows that the old lions of Hollywood still can show the young pups about acting. The director of this movie has such a fearless vision and there were times when I winced because of it. That's a good thing for me as movies nowadays hold very few suprises for me.
May 25, 2008
John Roach
I love this movie! It is one of my all time favorites. I love it becasue the script is awsome. It's tight and deep and addresses the thoughts of anyone who did not have a relationship sith a parent.
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