"Everything you have seen here has been an illusion." - Eisenheim

Rating: 8/10 (23 February 2007)

After seeing such a disappointing piece of garbage like 'The Black Dahlia' last night, I was really praying that the next film I'd see this weekend would be better. Towards the beginning of the film I had my doubts due to it's semi-lagging pace, but once it sped-up and ended, I realized I just saw one of the best films of the year, thus far. 'The Illusionist' is not only a compelling and very well made motion picture, it's a throughly enjoyable one as well.
Edward Norton, after taking a huge break, comes back to film as Eisenheim, a very famous and mysterious magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna. Eisenheim is a very articulate magician who is anything but arrogant. After impressing pretty much every citizen in Vienna including a bumbling police inspector played by Paul Giamatti, the prince of Vienna played by Dark City's Rufus Sewell comes to one of Eisenheim's shows. It is there where Eisenheim lays his eyes on the Prince's soon to be wife, Sophie (Jessica Biel), whom he had fallen in love with ten to twenty years prior. That's about all I'll tell you about the plot of 'The Illusionist', in fear I may give something away. It's a film that should be experienced without a lot of prior knowledge about the plot. Just remember it's a period piece about a magician.
'The Illusionist', the second film by Neil Burger, is a masterfully crafted film. Although it has it's flaws like being poorly paced at the beginning and a little bit towards the middle, the film captivates it's audiences once it starts going and doesn't let go. Burger's directing is well-done, but it's his writing that one should admire the most out of the two. The film is filled with first-rate performances all around, which one could argue is the strongest aspect of it. Edward Norton delivers yet another incredible performance as Eisenheim. He makes the character his own bringing this strange sense of warmness to Eisenheim I feel couldn't have been done by many other actors. Paul Giamatti is marvelous as well in a role he usually doesn't play, which is perfectly showcased by his performance in the ending sequence. Norton and Giamatti play off each other perfectly, not too much of a surprise seeing as though the two highly- gifted actors were roommates in College. Even though Norton and Giamatti steal pretty much every scene there is in the movie, Jessica Biel is quite good in her role. She actually makes me believe for the first time in her career that she could be labeled a "very good actress". Sewell is great in his limited role as the mean-spirited prince and British actor Eddie Marsan (21 Grams, Gangs of New York, Vera Drake) is solid in a small part as Eisenheim's manager.
In conclusion, 'The Illusionist' a great little surprise this fall that will satisfy most of it's viewers. I highly recommend it based on the stellar performances and smooth script alone. Grade: B+ (screened at Harkins Arizona Mills 24, Tempe, Arizona, 9/16/06)