Warning - very bad movie!

Rating: 3/10 (16 December 2006)

I was very disappointed with this movie. I've loved Norton's earlier films and Giamatti is also a favorite, so I expected something special.
It is a beautiful movie, but that's not enough these days; we've come to expect more. "The Illusionist" promises us a story; an unexpected plot with surprising twists. You've got the backdrop of early 1900's Vienna, a place destined to change the course of the world. You've got great actors and you've got magic - what more do you need?
I have never seen a film as transparent as this one. As the plot started to "thicken", I've already figured out the ending. That really pisses me off! I have a policy to never leave a Theatre during a film, so I kept my seat and kept hoping something unexpected would happen, but it never did.
At the end, where the guy "figures it all out", I've known for an hour already.
Please don't waist your money; see the "usual suspects" or "The Sixth Sense" again; or even better - wait for "The Prestige" - it's got to be better than this.
n