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The Illusionist (2006)

tomatometer

74

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 186
Fresh: 138 | Rotten: 48

The Illusionist is an engrossing, well-crafted story of mystery, magic and intrigue that is certain to enchant, if not hypnotize, audiences.

83

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Critic Reviews: 42
Fresh: 35 | Rotten: 7

The Illusionist is an engrossing, well-crafted story of mystery, magic and intrigue that is certain to enchant, if not hypnotize, audiences.

audience

83

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 382,715

My Rating

Movie Info

A supernaturally talented magician attempts to undermine the rigid social structure of turn-of-the-century Vienna by using his powers to win the love of his upper-class, childhood sweetheart in director Neil Burger's cinematic adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steven Millhauser's short story. Though the ill-fated childhood romance between cabinetmaker's son Eisenheim (Edward Norton) and upper-class Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel) eventually resulted in the heartbroken young man

Jan 9, 2007

$39.7M

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Cast

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All Critics (188) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (138) | Rotten (48) | DVD (33)

The line between truth and illusion is blurred so persuasively that for a moment or two, you may even believe that a romantic costume drama could stand up to all those special-effects blockbusters in the dog days of summer.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: NPR.org
NPR.org
Top Critic IconTop Critic

With exquisite performances (Giamatti's, in particular), it leaves you thrillingly hovering, happily uncommitted to any one interpretation.

February 28, 2007 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You may be temporarily beguiled, but not fooled.

February 3, 2007 Full Review Source: Time Out New York
Time Out New York
Top Critic IconTop Critic

What (director Neil) Burger and his colleagues have done is to entrance us with a richly acted, beautifully produced story.

October 26, 2006
The New Republic
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Conjures up a world of mystery, romance and suspense.

September 1, 2006
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The story may be less than credible, but the performances are mostly good, and Giamatti makes an especially strong showing.

September 1, 2006
Denver Rocky Mountain News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Dark, dazzling turns by Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel makes it achingly romantic.

January 16, 2013 Full Review Source: McClatchy-Tribune News Service
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

A fond animated farewell to Jacques Tati

May 15, 2011 Full Review Source: Movie Habit
Movie Habit

If nothing else, The Illusionist is worth watching solely for Giamatti's Oscar-caliber performance.

March 27, 2011 Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net
ComingSoon.net

A wonderful period film first and secondarily an interesting mystery-romance that keeps you guessing about the big questions until late in the narrative.

July 24, 2010 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment (1)
Movie Metropolis

Norton and Paul Giamatti perform wonders, but writer/director Neil Burger ruins the magic, exposing all of his story's tricks by the end.

July 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | Comments (3)
Boston Phoenix

Unabashedly old-fashioned and fantastically pulpy.

January 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Baltimore City Paper
Baltimore City Paper

Straddles fascination and irritation

August 30, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion
CinePassion

Director Neil Burger effectively evokes a sense of mystery and magic, but the plot grinds too methodically to match the dazzle of the title character's on-stage illusions.

June 17, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinefantastique | Comment (1)
Cinefantastique

An immaculate and utterly gorgeous murder mystery with the trifecta of wonderful direction, great acting, and a plot that twists and turns at every such occasion.

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed
Cinema Crazed

Never quite the sum of its parts, this would-be intelligent thriller coasts by on strong supporting performances from Giamatti, Sewell and Biel.

April 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment (1)

Just as two Truman Capote biopics came in subsequent Oscar seasons, so two period films about stage magicians appear with only winter to separate them. And, frankly, The Illusionist has missed a trick.

March 30, 2007 Full Review Source: thelondonpaper
thelondonpaper

Despite its two strong lead performances and terrific visual verve, The Illusionist ends up as a great example of an overly ambitious movie that's not quite sure what it wants to be.

March 24, 2007 Full Review Source: UGO | Comments (2)

An early flashback scene indicates how The Illusionist might have played like The Princess Bride for the tea and scone set. Instead it's just a nobly acted stage mystery.

March 15, 2007 Full Review

Norton looks tortured and old before his time as the humourless Eisenheim.

March 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Times [UK]
Times [UK]

The acts are beautifully mounted, the four central performances are excellent, and the exquisite photography is by Dick Pope, Mike Leigh's regular cameraman.

March 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Observer [UK]
Observer [UK]

Norton is superb as Eisenheim although his clipped Viennese accent grates occasionally and makes him sound like John Malkovich on a bad day.

March 6, 2007 Full Review Source: ViewLondon
ViewLondon

In its unassuming way, the film shows that reality is more mystifying than illusion.

March 3, 2007 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]
Guardian [UK]

It's the terrific cast and nicely paced, weird tale that make this one worth the detour.

March 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International
Film Journal International

Audience Reviews for The Illusionist

Presto... Sucko!

This was weird - a pretty bad movie with a half-decent ending.

Ed Norton was flat and his accent was laughable. Paul Giamatti carried this flick but... alas.
April 19, 2007
brooklynspo

Super Reviewer

what if they made a twilight zone episode as long as a movie, and then didn't tell you that that's what it was...then you would have this movie: mysterious, romantic, childlike and wondrous. a not-too-chick-flick chick flick. cloaked in the velvet musical tapestry of Philip Glass, and the excellent performances of all involved.
July 12, 2007
UniversalDreamer

Super Reviewer

    1. Chief Inspector Uhl: You can't destroy him you know. You can't bring down the Monarchy!
    2. Eisenheim: I know I can't.
    3. Chief Inspector Uhl: Then don't raise her again! Don't provoke those questions! [short Pause] Eisenheim I don't want to arrest you. I'm a cynical man, God knows. But if your manifestations are somehow real, then even I am willing to admit you're a very special person. And if its a trick, then its equally impressive. Either way you have a gift, so don't make me put you in jail! Promise me you won't do it again!
    4. Eisenheim: I promise you, you'll enjoy this next show.
    5. Chief Inspector Uhl: What do you want?
    6. Eisenheim: Nothing.
    7. Chief Inspector Uhl: Then why bring her back?
    – Submitted by Jidster T (6 months ago)
    1. Chief Inspector Uhl: They don't recognise you.
    2. Crown Prince Leopold: Keep your distance. I don't want to be seen with a Policeman.
    – Submitted by Jidster T (6 months ago)
    1. Crown Prince Leopold: He has tricked you, it is all an illusion!
    2. Chief Inspector Uhl: Perhaps there is truth in this illusion.
    – Submitted by MarieBella C (9 months ago)
    1. Crown Prince Leopold: I know you have been with him!
    2. Duchess Sophie von Teschen: It has nothing to do with you.
    3. Crown Prince Leopold: It has EVERYTHING to do with me!
    – Submitted by MarieBella C (9 months ago)
    1. Eisenheim: I always meant to return... I just... I kept thinking I'll find around the next corner...
    2. Duchess Sophie von Teschen: What?
    3. Eisenheim: A real mystery. I saw remarkable things but the only mystery I never solved was... why my heart couldn't let go of you.
    – Submitted by MarieBella C (9 months ago)
    1. Crown Prince Leopold: And we'll gather our best minds next time. You'll really have a challenge then.
    2. Eisenheim: Then I shall prepare something special. Perhaps I'll make you disappear.
    – Submitted by MarieBella C (9 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • The Illusionist (2006) (DE)
  • The Illusionist (2006) (CA)
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