The Illusionist (DVD, 2007, Widescreen)

"Eisenheim, making it easier to appreciate the movie's elegant cinematic sleight of hand. As with any good magic show, the fun of a picture like this lies in knowing that we're being tricked and trying to figure out how the trick works, rather than having the rug pulled out from under us all of a sudden at the end." LA Times.

"The Illusionist" directed by Neil Burger is a powerful film that tells the darkly, romantic story of an "Illusionist", Eisenheim, played by Edward Norton who falls in love as a teenager to Sophie von Teschen, Jesscia Biel. Because Eisenhiem was poor and Sophie from a wealthy upper-class family the union was not to be. We return to the Vienna of the 1900's, Eisenheim is now a famous Illusionist and he finds Sophie is engaged to Crown Prince Leopold, one who is said to be a sadist with his ladies. In the opening scene, Eisenheim is found alone on the stage. The dark, simple, dreary, stage that comes to life when Eisenheim displays his art. This magic is worrisome to Crown Prince Leopold, played by Rufus Sewell and he orders Chief Inspector Uhl, Paul Giamatti, to arrest Eisenheim for fraud. This dark, sinister plot adds to the feel of the film, it is as if the dim light hides a glow. The magic of an orange seed that blooms into a full orange tree bearing fruit. And, the ghosts that fade into view and then disappear. We want it to be so, we want to believe that "all is not what it seems", and then again "is that all there is?"

The plot thickens as Sophie faces danger and Eisenheim accuses Crown Prince Leopold of misdeeds. A game of cat and mouse ensues and it is Chief Inspector Uhl who becomes the centrist trying to decide who "The Illusionist" is and what is real. Paul Giamatti steals this movie, in my opinion. He is ruthless and thoughtful and in the end we discover he is also a man of the law. We discover, through Chief Inspector Uhl that this film is a moral story about power and deception.

The photography and film are powerful. The old Austria is well represented. The feel of the early 1900's and the era of Prince Joseph Franz and what is to come, spring to life through the scenes of the richness of Crown Prince Leopold's surroundings compared to a simple hunting lodge. We are able to feel the darkness and the glow that survives.

The soundtrack to "The Illusionist" recorded by Philip Glass is a marvelous score. The music becomes a large part of the movie, telling the story when there is no dialogue. The music is eerie and telling and lovely and matches the darkness that starts to glow.

This is a movie to remember, a movie to ruminate -is this real, is that all there is? The wooden necklace that Sophie wears was made by Eisenheim just for Sophie, and is an allegory of this film. It is made in such a way that when opened, becomes a heart with a picture of a young Eisenheim inside. Think about this- when opened, the truth is revealed. "This is a movie in which the future doesn't exist -- all that matters is the misty golden halo of its own present, a vibrant city standing at the edge of a new century. Blink and it's gone. But at least the glow remains." salon.com

The Illusionist

I wasn't that pumped to see this movie but after being talked into it I'm glad I did. Edward Norton is simply amazing (as usual) and Jessica Biel is perfect in every way.

The movie itself is a great story of romance, mystery, and intrigue. The imagery of the film is amazing and it's so well acted and so well put together.

IF you love magic you'll love this film, it's a love story but doesn't really feel like one. It'll keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end and it really takes your breath away in certain scenes.

One more shout out and that goes to Paul Giamatti. In case you don't realize it I'll let you in on a little secret... this guy is one of the best actors in Hollywood. He never ceases to amaze me and in the Illusionist he's no different.

Final Verdict:

5/5

Rent or Buy?: I'm going to buy it, I recommend you buy it as well.

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I had expected a movie about two magicians in a love triangle. There certainly was a triangle but the movie was much more than I expected.
The Illusions were phenominal. The storyline kept my interest throughout. Ed Norton was outstanding and believable.
I felt parts of it were predictable as I had no doubt of what the ending would be. But don't despair as the way it unfolds is intriguing. Imtriguing enough for me to reccomend this movie.
A fun romance that somehow makes for great entertainment.

The illusionist is a very interesting movie that is about 10 years too late from greatness. These days, cg graphics are used relentlessly and its hard to find a movie that abuses this tool. The illusionist is one of the many movies that uses a tad bit much of cg graphics so its not overly exciting. However, its all made up by a twisting plot that keeps you guessing. The actors were superb as well (even jessica biel which i thought would of blown the dynamics) and there were not many big flaws that i could see about this movie. Also, I love the camera style they use which gives a darker feeling to the suprises of this movie. 4 out of 5, and for any fans of magic or just a great plot I would suggest buying the dvd.

Paul Giamatti known as Eisenheim in the Illusionist has made an awesome performance as a turn of the century magician. Eisenheim performs magic that has not yet been seen before by the towns people. By bringing spirits back from the dead, he created a situation in which he was basically worshiped because of the abilities that the people thought he had. There are pleasant twists near to the end of the movie that will really make you wish to watch the movie again to see how you missed the key points.

This is not just a chick flick nor is it just a guys movie. It really is a good movie for most family members. Even though I usually enjoy the guy action movies, I found this movie to be quite entertaining in a softer way. Jessica Biel is not only a beautiful actress but she does a great job supporting Paul Giamatti in this pleasantly entertaining movie. It is a MUST BUY!!!

Some may disagree for whatever reason but I feel this is a wonderful movie
for the whole family. Buy it and see for yourself.

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The movie in a nutshell is about Eisenheim the illusionist, an amazing performer from turn of the century Austria. He reconnects with a childhood love who happens to be engaged to the crown prince and as you can imagine trouble starts brewing. Soon she ends up murdered and he sets out to avenge her death by bringing the man responsible to justice, only problem is it's the prince. The illusionist turns to his talents to aid his cause, by supposedly conjuring spirits from the dead his love is able to publicly accuse her murderer.

Or so we're meant to think! You see the entire movie is a magic trick, and like a good magic trick we are distracted from what is really happening.

I loved the performances, but really at this point I think these two actors can do no wrong in my book. The one major flaw are the accents; half German, half British and all wrong. Everyone in the movie had the same goofy accent so it's not the actors fault. I also really really loved the whole victorian look of the film.

Another minor criticism comes at the end when the whole deception is revealed, there is that "aah-ha" moment that both Paul Giamatti's character and the audience go through, but since you weren't paying attention to the details of what was happening under the surface it's not easy to get the gist of everything that really happened. Those moments are risky for a film to take, if the audience suspects anything the scene often doesn't have the weight that is intended. But for me anyway, it worked perfectly. And it was fun realizing that we'd all been tricked.

The superb acting by Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti sets the stage for this sometimes slow-paced but interesting movie. Drama and mystery surround romantic aspects of the story, but it does not delve too deeply in to the romance to become tedious. Should appeal to both sexes, not just women or men.

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The Illusionist is quite an accomplishment when you consider writer/director Neil Burger's background. His only other film credit, a shot on digital mock doc about the Kennedy assassination, could not possible prepare audiences for a lush period piece centering on forbidden love, a twisty whodunit, and a main character whose craft seems almost supernatural. It's a leap of faith so large than many a movie fan wouldn't dare the creative chasm. And that's a shame. While it pales in comparison to Christopher Nolan's masterful adaptation of Christopher Priest's novel The Prestige, The Illusionist (based on a short story by Pulitzer Prize winner Steve Millhauser) is a delightfully engaging effort, a film overloaded with sensational small touches and mesmerizing melodramatic strokes. Taking a typical tale of class-crossed lovers, political intrigue and personal vendettas and filtering it through the evocative world of turn of the century Europe (expertly realized by several found locations in Prague), we end up with a movie that's inviting, intriguing and never sort on ideas. By combining the celebrated showmanship of old world magicians with a few technological tweaks, we end up with a fascinating display of dramatics that subverts the basic challenges of keeping the unexplained enticing within the already enigmatic realm of cinema.

At the center of this story is a quartet of compelling characters – Eisenheim (played with just a splash of contemporary cynicism by Edward Norton), Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti, expertly lost in the role) Crown Prince Leopold (made both pathetic and piercing by Dark City's Rufus Sewell) and the shimmering, sublime Sophie (given a good turn by Jessica Biel in what is a basically underwritten role). How they interact, how they confuse and control each other is the key to The Illusionist's success. Sometimes, Burger and his cast manage magnificently. During a command performance in the Prince's palace, a subtle sequence of one-upmanship sees everyone in the cast masking conflicting and contrasting emotions. Similarly, whenever Uhl is speaking one-on-one with Leopold or Eisenheim, the conversations crackle with real thespian thunder. It has to be said that there is little chemistry between Norton and Biel as carnal companions, but we still believe in their relationship because of the carefully controlled flashbacks that Burger uses to set up their story. And this is not a movie made up of subplots. Even though Uhl enjoys magic himself, and Leopold has a plan to seize power from his father, those aspects of the narrative are tossed off and treated as the ancillary trappings of such a long forgotten era. Indeed, there are times when The Illusionist relies heavily on its production design, hoping it will carry some of the story's cinematic weight.

Like any movie positioned on a twist ending to sum up its success, The Illusionist does a decent job of hiding the key clues to its last act denouement. Keen cinephiles will probably have it figured out long before Uhl's wide-eyed realization, but this does not detract from the way in which Burger balances the needs of the mystery with the forward progress of his plot. Indeed, The Illusionist is as old fashioned in its wrap up as the epoch its characters exist in, While it is not the best magic movie of the year, it is a remarkably accomplished piece of masterful motion picture making.
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Easily one of the best movies I've seen in awhile. From the twists and turns, to the suspense, the Illusionist will keep your attention and at the edge of your seat. Edward Norton is at his best, this could possibly be his greatest film yet. There is nothing I could possibly dislike about this movie, the director is a genius.

The Illusionist was a very entertaining movie. It kept me very involved throughout the whole film. I liked it very much. The acting and magic were incrediable.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best DVD's I have ever seen. It is a classic and I would recommend it to everyone. I received this DVD in mint condition and the delivery was really fast. Thank you. I am looking forward to doing more business with you.

The Illusionist starring Edward Norton as Eisenhiem and Jessica Biel as Sophie is a historic tell of lost loves reunited combined with great effects and great actors. This wonderful story begins with the couple as adolescent versions of themselves exchanging private moments and secrets. Though they are forced apart by the harshness of their caste system a small thing only they share keeps them together at heart. While apart from his beloved Eisenheim travels the globe learning the ways of mystics and mysteries which allows him to return to his homeland a man of slightly higher status because of the popularity of his act. Indeed Eisenhiem is craved for by his audiences to whom he unveils the most bewildering sights. Even though Eisenheim is adored by the people his love is threatened again by Crown Prince Leopold played by Rufus Sewell. Now Eisenheim and his love Sophie must free themselves from this tyranny in search of their happily ever after.

I feel that this movie was able to hold my interest with superb acting and directing, using a plot perfectly without the need or use of violence, high level action such as chase scenes and fights and such. The ending was wonderful, leaving me with a truly exuberent feeling. And I was able to watch it multiple times and enjoy it again and again, each time getting out of it things that I had missed before. I highly recommend it and have not had a single person take me up on it who did not also enjoy it, albeit some more than others. Very few others have remained low key and still maintain the intensity.

Superb performances by Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Jessica Biel. Excellent ending, definitely worth watching. I decided to buy this movie because I wanted to add to my film library and felt this movie was worth watching again

I decided to buy this movie after having rented it from Blockbuster. You can't just watch this once, this is a movie to keep! A wonderful love story, very well-defined characters and a twisting plot that has you guessing until the last minute and even then you are truly amazed and surprised. It is set in Vienna and the photography is spellbinding. Ed Norton and Jessica Biel have unbelievable chemistry, Paul Giamatti gives a very strong yet tender performance and the actor playing crown prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell, I think) is the best of all, although you will loathe his pompous, cruel and egotistic character. E. Norton and J. Biel are chldhood friends reunited when he comes to Vienna as Eisenheim the Illusionist. She is set to marry the crown prince when the mystery begins to unfold.
The DVD has behind-the-scenes footage in addition to the feature.

I was really excited to see this movie because I'm a fan of magic and Edward Norton. This movie exceeded my expectations and was thoroughly enjoyable. I wasn't sure Jessica Biel was the right choice for Sophie (the love interest) at first, but I was pleasantly surprised. She was wonderful. In fact, all the actors were great in their respective roles. At the heart of the film is a love triangle between a prince, a duchess, and an illusionist named Eisenheim. I won't bore you with explaining the plot. I think it's probably better to watch this film with no preconceived notions. Just sit back and prepare for a great show. You won't be dissappointed!

This is a great movie! Edward Norton, who usually plays a dispicable character, really shines in this one! You will be surprised by the ending!

I SENT PLENTY OF MESSAGES AND THEY NEVER SEND MY PURCHASE!! THEY HAD NO PROBLEM DRAFTING THE MONEY FROM MY ACCOUNT THOUGH!!!!! DO NOT BUY FROM THIS THIEF - YOU NEED TO CORRECT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WRONG - IF YOU WANT TO SELL THINGS ON E-BAY THEN PERHAPS YOU SHOULD SEND THE PRODUCT AFTER YOU TAKE THE MONEY!!!!!!!!

This movie kept me on the edge of my seat from begining to end. The topic matter was excellent and magic performed in the movie was good. Each actor in my opinion played their roll to fit the character's part. I would recommend this movie for those interested in fictional, but good illusions.

What a nice little movie this turned out to be! Edward Norton, we missed you. Where have you been, pal? So anyway, Norton plays an illusionist who goes by the awesome name of Eisenheim. During his childhood, he fell in love with a girl named Sophie who happens to be very upper class. They attempt to run away together but their plans are foiled by adults who don't want them together.

Years later, Eisenheim has developed quite a reputation and Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) comes to see his performance. He asks for a volunteer from the audience and the prince volunteers his fiancé, Sophie (Jessica Biel). The prince becomes convinced he can figure out any trick from Eisenheim and during a private performance at his home, he's proven to be a fool in front of his guests. Sophie and Eisenheim begin to meet privately because she knows the prince is bad for the country and she wants to get away from society life. Before they can carry out their plan, she is murdered, apparently by the jealous prince. Eisenheim is heartbroken and begins having performances of dead spirits appearing before the audience which makes him more popular than ever. Sophie's spirit appears making the audience question who murdered her. The entire movie, Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) who works for the prince follows Eisenheim around trying to discover his tricks and persuade him not to challenge the prince. The prince wants Eisenheim taken into custody for disturbing the public with his performances. As they approach to take him in, he becomes transparent and vanishes himself!

Now I won't tell you any more about the ending because it's just to fun to watch. The special effects are amazing in this movie. It really does seem like magic. Edward Norton is wonderful as always, sporting an accent and a calm demeanor that makes you wonder what's going on beneath. Paul Giamatti is characteristically gruff, at times difficult to understand and awkward. I have to say I'm not a big fan of his work just on account of the fact that all his characters I have seen tend to be the grown-up version of that awkward kid in high school who had trouble making friends. Why is he always feel like an outcast even when, in this case, he's in the prince's pocket? Jessica Biel is beautiful and keeps it simple which seems to be the best way to play it in this case. Rufus Sewell (wow.....what a scary name) as the prince does a good job in the beginning and creates an arc towards a great villian.....but I felt like he could have done more. Been a little more menacing, a little more crazy even. Don't hold back, man! Playing villians is supposed to be more fun!

All in all, this was a very fun movie and I personally give it a B++. If the other two guys had been a little sharper, I could've been persuaded to give an A-.

OMG, if you love Edward North as I do then this is another of his great performances. His character of "Eisenheim" was nothing than excellent, playing this early 1900's Illusionist back in Vienna. Now Jessica Beil as his childhood friend and love, who never lost the love for him even though he was force to leave his home and venture out into the world. Eisenheim learn the ways of the east and mastered the Illusions that amazed all of us. Paul Giamatti playing the police chief who at times you think is controller by the evil Crown Prince Leopold, but in the end isn't. I won't tell you more since you must see this movie. The cinematography was excellent and break taking, taking you back to Vienna in the early 1900's.

Is it Magic or Illusions??

One thing is for sure, a movie you must own.. BUY is and you'll be trilled just like all of us.

Another movie you won't want to pass up is the PRESTIGE!!!!

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My God this was a great movie. I have watched it over and over. I think this is the best movie Edward Norton has ever made! Buy this movie!!! You will not be blowing your money.

This is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Edward Norton's intense performance was inspiring. The cinematography was award winning. Its many twists and turns left me sitting on the edge of my seat. I wish more movies of this caliber were made.