well crafted movie in a magic Vienna

Rating: 7/10 (9 April 2007)

Both Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti are impeccable, their roles fit perfectly their skills and personalities, moreover - and that's the surprise - Jessica Biel acts quite well.. "The Illusionist" is a haunting romance, framed in an enigma and set in turn of-the-century atmospheres. Finale is perhaps a bit predictable but conjures really get to mesmerize the viewers and storytelling as well as characters are inscrutable themselves, managing to overshadow the not great screen writing and the rudimentary direction. Norton and Biel should have shown more chemistry but everything is quite magical regardless, so I suggest everyone go to watch this film