Good but immemorable

Rating: 6/10 (29 August 2006)

The Illusionist is a fine film. The acting is all quite solid--though only Giamatti gives a stand out performance. The writing is good, the cinematography looks very nice, and the score is perfectly complementary.
Despite this and the obvious care and effort that went into its crafting, the film never manages to soar. There's nothing compelling in it. The ending is not surprising, by design, which means that the journey is what should move us. The problem is it doesn't. It's not obviously tragic, clever, or romantic--and yet it's not subtle either.
In the end, The Illusionist seems destined to become that movie on the tip of your tongue. The one you know you watched but can't for your life remember.