Tuesday, September 05, 2006
The Illusionist (*** 1/2 NinjaStars)
We saw this movie Friday nite in a moment of spontaneity. I haven't been keeping up to date on movies lately b/c it's been such a wasteland so I had no idea what this movie was about or who was in it. Turns out that it has a great cast including a few of my favorites, Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti and an actress I don't know much about, Jessica Biel (I really have NEVER seen "7th Heaven"!). In addition, it was set mostly in early 1900s Vienna and having just visited there over the summer, it was an added plus.
Norton plays Eisenheim, a talented magician who, as a child, fell in love with princess Sophie (Biel) who was very much above his social standing and unattainable. He leaves Vienna to travel and eventually returns with a successful magic show and finds Sophie engaged to the Crown-Prince Leopold but uses his magic/abilities to try and win her over. His efforts are complicated by the presence of the local police inspector Uhl (Giamatti) whose loyalties and upward mobility are tied to pleasing the Crown-Prince. I don't want to say any more in an effort not to spoil it for anyone, but suffice to say there is a nifty twist-ending which didn't surprise me, but still I was pleasantly surprised (that doesn't make sense, go see it!)
The Illusionist is full of stunning visuals and turn of the century Vienna felt alive (in reality, I believe shot mostly the the Czech Republic). Norton somehow made a romantic-at-heart, peasant-cum-magician come alive and Giamatti gets my props for his nuanced performance as a servant of the empire who really wants to be on Eisenheim's side. After I let this movie marinate a bit more, I might give it another half star! Go see it!
Norton plays Eisenheim, a talented magician who, as a child, fell in love with princess Sophie (Biel) who was very much above his social standing and unattainable. He leaves Vienna to travel and eventually returns with a successful magic show and finds Sophie engaged to the Crown-Prince Leopold but uses his magic/abilities to try and win her over. His efforts are complicated by the presence of the local police inspector Uhl (Giamatti) whose loyalties and upward mobility are tied to pleasing the Crown-Prince. I don't want to say any more in an effort not to spoil it for anyone, but suffice to say there is a nifty twist-ending which didn't surprise me, but still I was pleasantly surprised (that doesn't make sense, go see it!)
The Illusionist is full of stunning visuals and turn of the century Vienna felt alive (in reality, I believe shot mostly the the Czech Republic). Norton somehow made a romantic-at-heart, peasant-cum-magician come alive and Giamatti gets my props for his nuanced performance as a servant of the empire who really wants to be on Eisenheim's side. After I let this movie marinate a bit more, I might give it another half star! Go see it!
