The Illusionist

Rating: 7/10 (11 July 2010)

This is meant to be some of kind romantic film, I will be honest though I was paying much more attention the reason for the title, i.e. all the magic stuff. Basically a young man in a lower class is in love with a girl in a higher class, and she loves him for his magic tricks, and the parents are disapproving, and they are split being caught. Years later, in Vienna, they have both grown up, Eisenheim (Edward Norton) has grown into a successful stage magician, Sophie (Jessica Biel) the Duchess Von Teschen expected to marry the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). Eisenheim is performing tricks and illusions that no-one can seem to find the secrets of, and he is being invited to many special occasions to astound people, including for the Crown Prince. Being reunited with Sophie is obviously causing some friction, but Eisenheim's magic is making much more people become concerned almost for their safety. Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) is the one investigating complaints about the magic having no explanation, and it becomes really strong concern when Eisenheim seems to be speaking to ghosts that the audience can see. It is when Sophie dies and he "raises" her spirit on stage that he has officially gone too far and is arrested, as far as I can remember there is some evidence that the Crown Prince was found to be involved with her murder. Also starring Edward 'Eddie' Marsan as Josef Fischer, EastEnders' Jake Wood as Jurka and Tom Fisher as Willigut. If I had paid a little more attention to the romantic element I may have got the story as a whole, but I'm not really too bothered, American actors Norton, Biel and Giamatti all put on impeccable English accents, the magic tricks with the help of some special effects make for great viewing, certainly a most watchable period romantic fantasy. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Cinematography. Very good!