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The Illusionist

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The Illusionist (2006)

75%
88%
87%
N/A
N/A
N/A
75 %
Reviews Counted: 173 Fresh: 129  Rotten:44 Average Rating: 7/10
 
Consensus: The Illusionist is an engrossing, well-crafted story of mystery, magic and intrigue that is certain to enchant, if not hypnotize, audiences.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

Theatrical Release: Aug 18, 2006 Limited

Box Office: $39,680,302

Synopsis: In a world where nothing is as it appears, an illusionist and a police inspector face off in a challenge of wills that attempts to determine where reality ends and magic begins...all the while blurring the line between power and corruption, love and devotion, vigilance and mania and... In a world where nothing is as it appears, an illusionist and a police inspector face off in a challenge of wills that attempts to determine where reality ends and magic begins...all the while blurring the line between power and corruption, love and devotion, vigilance and mania and ultimately, life and death. A supernatural mystery that combines romance, politics and magic, The Illusionist is the latest film from the producers of the Oscar® winners Crash and Sideways. The film stars Academy Award® nominees Edward Norton (Fight Club, American History X) and Paul Giamatti (Cinderella Man, Sideways) as two men pitted against each other in a battle of wits. Norton plays a mysterious stage magician, Eisenheim, who bends nature's laws to his will in front of awestruck crowds. Giamatti co-stars as Vienna's shrewd Chief Inspector Uhl, a man committed to uphold the law and for whom magic holds no place in his ordered world. Jessica Biel (Elizabethtown) shares the screen as the beautiful and enigmatic Sophie von Teschen, who finds her future inexorably altered when she encounters the man called Eisenheim, and Eisenheim comes dangerously close to unlocking the dark secret of the monarchy that she holds. When Eisenheim begins to perform his astounding illusions in Vienna, word quickly spreads of his otherworldly powers...even reaching the ears of one of Europe's most powerful and pragmatic men, Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell, Dark City). Certain that the illusionist is nothing more than an accomplished fraud, Leopold attends one of Eisenheim's shows, convinced that he can debunk him during the performance. But when the Prince's beautiful fiancé and companion, Sophie von Teschen, assists the magician onstage, Eisenheim and Sophie recognize each other from their childhoods-and a dormant love affair is rekindled. With Eisenheim and Leopold vying for Sophie's affection, it quickly becomes apparent that both will go to any length to claim and keep her love. As the clandestine romance continues, Uhl is charged by Leopold to intensify his efforts to expose Eisenheim, even while the magician gains a devoted and vocal public following. With Uhl doggedly searching for the reasons and the man behind the trickery, Eisenheim prepares to execute his greatest illusion yet. The Yari Film Group presents a Michael London/Koppelman Levien Production, In Association with Contagious Pictures, of A Film by Neil Burger: The Illusionist. The film is written and directed by Neil Burger-who received acclaim and award recognition for his debut feature, 2002's Interview with the Assassin-and is based on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist." It stars Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel and Rufus Sewell. The Illusionist is produced by Michael London (Sideways), Brian Koppelman (Interview with the Assassin), David Levien (Interview with the Assassin) and Bob Yari (Crash), and features top-notch production values from a team of superlative artisans, including: director of photography Dick Pope BSC (Topsy-Turvy); editor Naomi Geraghty (Hotel Rwanda); production designer Ondrej Nekvasil (Emmy winner for TV's Anne Frank: The Whole Story); costume designer Ngila Dickson (Oscar®-winner for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King); and composer Philip Glass (Academy Award®-nominated for The Hours). Casting is by Deborah Aquila ASC, Tricia Wood ASC and Nina Gold. The executive producer is Jane Garnett, with Tom Karnowski, Matthew Stillman and David Minkowski serving as co-producers. [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan

Director: Neil Burger, Bob Yari
Producer: Michael London
Screenwriter: Brian Koppelman, David Levien
Producer: Cathy Schulman
Composer: Philip Glass

DVD Info

Release:

Jan 9, 2007

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Full Frame - 1.33

Audio:

  • Dolby Surround 5.1 - English
  • Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Behind The Scenes - Making Of
  • Featurettes - "Jessica Biel on THE ILLUSIONIST"
  • Trailers - Theatrical Trailer

Buy It On DVD

Reviews

 
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Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
04/22/08
Jamie Russell
Channel 4 Film
Ratings Image
2/5

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.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/30/07
Stuart McGurk
thelondonpaper
Ratings Image
N/A

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.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/24/07
Brian Tallerico
UGO
Ratings Image
N/A

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.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/15/07
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
03/13/07
James Christopher
Times [UK]
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N/A

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

Full Review | comment Comment
03/10/07
Philip French
Observer [UK]
Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
03/06/07
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
03/03/07
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Ratings Image
N/A

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

Full Review | comment Comment
03/01/07
Doris Toumarkine
Film Journal International
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N/A

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

Full Review | comment Comment
02/28/07
Nick Funnell
Time Out
Ratings Image
4/5

Keeps you guessing and wondering right up until the end.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/27/07
Mark Adams
Sunday Mirror [UK]
Ratings Image
3/5

Magic and love but not a lot of passion in this patchy period piece that could have been The Prestige’s smarter cousin, yet trips over its own ambitions.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/27/07
Jamie Russell
Total Film
Ratings Image
3/5

Keeps you vaguely approaching the edge of your seat.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/27/07
Ailsa Caine
Little White Lies
Ratings Image
3/5

It’s not on a gasp-inducing making-the-Statue-Of-Liberty-disappear level, but with its opulent presentation and confident storytelling, The Illusionist has the power to keep an audience rapt like a good old-fashioned card trick.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/27/07
Olly Richards
Empire Magazine
Ratings Image
3/5

Not everyone will be taken in by the plot's final twist, but even if you guess how Eisenheim does it, you'll be won over by his showmanship.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/27/07
Matt McNally
BBC
Ratings Image
N/A

With Edward Norton at his striking best as The Illusionist, this is a stylish film filled with intrigue and presented with flair - like a good magic trick

Full Review | comment Comment
02/23/07
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
02/23/07
Sydney Morning Herald
Ratings Image
3/5

Un atractivo y satisfactorio pasatiempo sin mayores pretensiones que las de entretener, fascinar y eventualmente sorprender a su espectador.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/06/07
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total
Ratings Image
3/6

You may be temporarily beguiled, but not fooled.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/03/07
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out New York
Ratings Image
4/5

a well-written piece, not something you'll see all the time in Hollywood

Full Review | comment Comment
01/11/07
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures
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