Edward Norton Proves He Is Very Good

Rating: 7/10 (22 April 2007)

The Illusionist is not a brilliant film, but it is nice. If you think that it is about somebody like Houdini and his tricks, then you are mistaken. The main hero, played by excellent Edward Norton, named Eisenheim, is an extremely talented illusionist, whose shows attract great attention and have no explanation. But this simple plot is weighed much by the fact that the whole story takes place in visibly calm but internally tense Vienna, where His Royal Highness is plotting against his father, an Emperor of Austrian  Hungarian empire, to take his throne. Mr. Eisenheim is suddenly in the very midst of this political turmoil, which is only mad worse by his romantic affair with Prince's bride-to-be. The seemingly slow and peaceful film in fact gets in quicker with every minute and the whole whirlwind of events is flying high. Till the end of the film we have no idea who is dead or alive, who is going to win or lose, who is right or wrong. This is a great, up-tempo story, with political killings, love, tricks and mystery. Sometimes, the film seems to become openly mystical, sometimes, very realistic. This is what it makes it so very thrilling and catchy.