THE ILLUSIONIST (DVD)

Director: Neil Burger (1st major feature film)

Starring: Ed Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell

Despite its flaws there is quite a lot I loved about The Illusionist. There is a richness to the story and the visuals that is lacking in most movies. Despite pointedly being a revenge story with both a murder and a suicide, the film does not degrade us with senseless tacked on action scenes, or violence. It's certainly true that this story has no great aspirations. It is simply a twisted tale of revenge, but it is a very well done tale of revenge I think. At times it feels like a Poe story, or Trilby, or some other grand Victorian age tale, even if in the end it's pure Hollywood. Nonetheless the world in this film feels real, even though it's entirely fantastical. It's a beautiful and magical creation brought to life.

The Illusionist Eisenheim himself (Ed Norton) is an incredibly clever conjurer in 19th century Austria, during the grand empire of Vienna. We never really know if he is himself magical or not but his onstage conjuring is magical in every way (whether a simple trick or no). I really loved the visuals of this world entirely, but the images of the stage shows were stunning. It just so happens that Eisenheim is in love with a countess (Biel), who just so happens to be pursued by the heir to the Empire's throne, the Crown Prince Leopold (Sewell), who just so happens to be a brute. When after an argument with the Prince the beatiful young woman ends up dead, everyone in the empire suspects Sewell. However, to openly accuse him would be foolish in this land where he weilds nearly aboslute power. Eisenheim devises a clever stage show where he finely walks the line between accusing the Prince of murder and simply providing magical entertainment to the masses.

Paul Giamatti (wonderfully) plays Vienna's chief inspector of the police, in some ways in league with the Prince, in others bound dutiful to the rule of law. Although this is a much lighter role than some others he's recently taken, his inspector is just as well performed by the actor. Giamatti has certainly raised himself to the highest circle of actors working today. It's obvious how his choices with each gesture of his character are unique from what another actor would bring to the role. Here his character struggles between supporting Eisenheim and fearfully conceding to the Prince. It's a wonderful performance I think. Not showy, not incredibly deep, but well done nonetheless.

The film builds slowly to the confrontation between the Prince and the stage wizard until (perhaps unfortunately) the film ends with a simple sleight of hand, giving away the secrets of the magic trick. Any magician knows you don't show how the trick is done, and for 90% of this film this story does the same. Nonetheless, the twist explaining how everything happened does not entirely take away from the story. This is entertainment, pure and simply, and a nice, neatly wrapped up twist at the end can certainly be entertaining.

Now on to the negatives of this film. First, while Biel completely surprised me with her fine performance here, the love story still felt contrived. I also heartily believe that many viewers will find this story stilted and slow. I think we've reached a point where many movie-goers will only pay to see a slow Victorian tale if it's stuffily earnest, a Forster, Bronte or Jane Austen story. The Illusionist on the other hand is pure Hollywood entertainment, not a novel of values. Agree or disagree, however, I really loved the world that this story evoked. It was magical and tangible, and even if the story behind it was just light entertainment, the foreground was beatiful enough to praise.

Standouts: Giamatti, Norton and Sewell really shined. Great performances. The visuals were stunning.
Blowouts: The "highbrow" feeling tone conflicted with the Hollywood plot.

Grade: B+