Now You See Me, Now You Don't

Rating: 4/10 (1 September 2006)

Let's get this straight, I NEVER leave a movie before the end. That is, until now. There is something oppressively dull about THE ILLUSIONIST, despite the inviting trappings of a period mystery set around magic featuring some very fine performers. What more could one ask of an end-of-summer flick, right? Well, how about some sense of pacing and style. This film is so desperately quiet, I had trouble staying awake in a mid-day matinée! It is more than an hour in before someone raises their voice above a hushed stage whisper. The pauses would put Harold Pinter to shame. You could literally drive a 'horse drawn carriage' through them. Giamatti and Norton are fine performers, but whatever nuance they bring to the film is lost amid detailed shots of 19th century streets and buildings. I felt like I was being smothered by down pillows and fled the cinema after nearly 90 minutes, gulping fresh air by the mouthfuls. What happens at the end? I couldn't care less. Where is Doug Henning when you need him?