Breeding the Illusion of Puzzle

Rating: 8/10 (17 December 2007)

I can't really remember the last time I was so amazed by the quality and development of a movie. Not just flabbergasted, but filled with awe as the story was constructed inside a most meticulously brilliant frame.
I say first meticulous because the film excels in every aspect imaginable. All of the production values contribute discreetly to give the film that taste, like inhaling deep beauty all around. Scrupulous and beautiful art direction; from the dusty lamps; to the sculpted street scenarios, to the wonderful wardrobe election, fonded on careful creation. The photography is also remarkable, let's give it the honor, of imposing a dry, sepia like tone all over and mastering the precise quantity and quality of colors to amuse the spectator and drown him into the story, helped by a cohesive, narrow editing. Neil Burgess shows his study on films, as I was interested in seeing the now rare closing on iris, used in some scenes fading the image in a black, circled vortex. That was used in the pre-50 movies. "Some of the tricks transcend the illusion and approach art" claims Norton's character. Well, art is reached with this breathtaking production afore mentioned.
Actings, on the other hand, are brutally calculated: like Giamatti's pondering ordinary charm, and Norton exuding elegance all the way on. Sewell's villain potency and Biel's charm, beauty, mesmerizing looks and so on. Oh, and I forgot! The music is sincerely spectacular, inviting the viewer to close eyes in order to truly hear it. Some ups and downs of a piano make an absolutely astonishing score that adds to the movie.
If "The Prestige" (unevitable comparison) was a dark, gritty but fantastic approach at magic "The Illusionist" is delicious, exceptionally presented and a lot more sweet on edges, with a romantic story finely scripted. The spiritualism messages are beyond my interest, but adds to the movie's utter bright karma.
I wasn't surprised like these since a long shot, since "Spirited Away". Maybe because I wasn't aware of the hype. But the movie will be presented as a puzzle, with many hints to solve a faltering mystery. Appearances may lie, may not lie. The true illusion lies in how deep does the viewer believe this story. Movies are an illusion, right?
Fantastical, Incredible, Brutal, Mesmerizing. Can think of many more words. Please see it.