Continuing in my love for all things Norton, we have The Illusionist.
A romantic tale, the story starts out with Paul Giamatti as the Chief Inspector, narrating Edward Abramovich aka Eisenheim the Illusionist’s background to Crown Prince Leopold of Vienna- a background Eisenheim shares with the Prince’s fiancé.
As teenagers Eisenheim and Sophie von Teschen shared a star-crossed love for each other. A love eventually torn apart by her family, separating them for 15 yrs. When The Crown Prince (Rufus Sewell) visits one of Eisenheim’s shows with Sophie, it doesn’t take her long to secretly rekindle her love with the man she once knew simply as Edward.
Naturally The Prince has other ideas. For one- Eisenheim made a fool out of him in front of Sophie AND his guests and, for another- he needs Sophie, and her country Hungry, as a tool in over-throwing his father.
When Sophie makes a stop at The Prince’s hunting lodge to tell him the marriage will not happen- (The antlers he uses in all his decorating should give you a clue to Leo’s nature, btw-) someone leaves alive and the other ends up dead and draped over a horse that disappears into the night.
How Eisenheim untangles, or tangles, the murder mystery is part of the twist- which you can probably tell me right now, sight unseen, because it’s so obvious.
Personally I love Giamatti. He does a fine job in the film, if a tad miscast, imo. My problem is I couldn’t “see” the Inspector past Giamatti the actor. Still, the Inspector character has a depth which might not have been realized in the hands of a lesser actor.
Norton and Biel as Eisenheim and Sophie do a fine job too- as well as Rufus Sewell as the arrogant Prince.
The cinematography is excellent and as much a part of the story as the characters. Much of the retelling is set with a semi closed lens, much like the cameras of the early 1900′s, and filmed in slight sepia tones. AND the illusions Eisenheim performs are truly magical because of the special effects.
3.5 out of 5 from me. A fairly good movie with one annoying flaw- you can see the twist coming a mile away. If not for that, I would have given this a much higher grade.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgOnwRrfUuA]
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I liked it, it was very entertaining.
Giamatti is a great actor, I think, always in secondary roles, except for Sideways.
I hated Sideways. Fell asleep watching it.
Again, another movie where I simply adored Edward Norton (it’s not hard, right? :P )! This man really is a gifted actor. Giamatti had a very interesting role, but I hope he will be getting more leading roles in the future, he really deserves it.
The only one I didn’t like much was Jessica Biel, but she was ok… And you’re right Zeek, that twist was so obvious that it hurt. ;-)
Another great review, I must say! :)
yeah Biel didn’t impress me much either …
You’re making me want to watch this one! Great review Zeek!
Hey Zeek,
I’ve put this movie on my movieshack queue!
You’ll have to tell me what you think after you watch it!!