cleverly disguised romance

Rating: 9/10 (3 September 2006)

This movie is about magic. It is clearly about people believing what they choose to believe whether it is real or not. The magician's real trick is the ability to lead people down the path of their beliefs while messing with reality. When the trick is done, the desire to believe and the belief become the magic. That is what movies are, too. All the talent and effort of the people who make the movies go into playing off of your own ability to believe something and it is the viewers' ability to be distracted from the reality of movie-making that helps the story be successful. This film succeeds on several levels and I sat like a child being told a sophisticated bedtime story. I wanted to believe. I got pulled into the romance in a way that I don't normally because I dislike most romance movies. But this worked because the acting was so strong and the attraction felt real with an unpredictable aspect. The romance, although central to the story, became secondary to the psychology and story of the impact of illusion on everything from romance to politics to social behavior. As the magician was analogous to movie makers, the Chief Inspector Uhl becomes the audience. He needs to be critical to do his job as detective, but he, too, gets lost in his own desire to believe in mystery and the fantastic. The acting is very good, Edward Norton was particularly good I love how he expressed depth and meaning with his eyes while only revealing what he wants you to see just like the magician; Jessica Biel surprised me at being better than I expected; Rufus Sewel embodied that era and his character perfectly; and Paul Giamatti is always top notch. I also have to say that the costume design is superb. Ngila Dickson is so talented at bringing other realities and time periods to life. The story is well told. There is one weak spot at the end that almost ruins what I had thought was careful story telling, but I hate spoilers, so I will not say specifically. It has to do with a clunky montage and laughter. It seems tacked on to retell a story for dumb American audiences and the story doesn't need retelling. If people want to see it again to find the details they missed, let em. Good for the box office, you know. But other than that, this is an really entertaining well-made movie that is also beautiful to look at.