Expect the 'expected' unexpected.

Rating: Null/10 (21 October 2008)

Any film with a title like this is bound to have a sting in its tail, and the sting here isn't going to cause anyone much pain: in fact it's one of those unexpected twists we've pretty much come to expect. The ever dependable Paul Giamatti is the best thing in the film as the morally dubious chief of police, living in the pocket of the half-mad Crown Prince but still near enough to the streets to identify with Edward Norton's master illusionist. Norton is good, but he's a little difficult to swallow in a period piece, and his European accent is a little suspect at times. The reveal, when it comes, is a little sketchy  especially about Eisenheim's powers of resurrection, but it doesn't really spoil the film that much. I'm quite surprised at its high rating, though.