Not So magical

Rating: 5/10 (22 January 2007)

I have read dozens of the comments herein and must agree most with those who felt disappointed. THE ILLUSIONIST is a beautiful period piece, well casted and acted, etc. But the film paints itself into a dramatic corner and then makes a mess of escaping itself.
The plot holds no surprises. It is clear that the storyline is about the magician winning back, rescuing, etc., his true love from an unhappy life and evil prince. Nothing new there. Certainly the film could have helped itself if the leading lovers had not consummated their passion so early in the film. There is also a very nice subplot regarding the internal conflict of Giamatti's inspector, who is intrinsically good but who has been corrupted. I call this a "subplot" because I was interested in seeing on which side of good and evil this character ultimately stood. Well scripted and acted in that regard. It seemed clear to me that the suspense; i.e., the question for which we were being teased, was the great Eisenheim's nature. Had his travels, experiences, etc., effected a transformation? What and where did he learn what he did? Had he sold his soul to the devil?
Apparently I am way off base as far as the movie's motives, its main conflict, its intent, etc.. I'm still unsure what the film is trying to suggest. In light of the explanation packaged together in the last few minutes of the film, I think we are being asked to believe that Norton's character was a great magician with deep insight into human nature. If such is the case, no explanation whatsoever is provided for how Eisenheim's tricks are performed. So if we must swallow that Eisenheim can do ANYTHING, create ANY illusion, etc., where is the suspense? Its like the Superman adventure where Superman reverses the spin of the world to turn back time. If a hero is so God-like that he can do ANYTHING why should we be anxious, fearful, curious, etc., about conflict, predicament or dramatic tension? If Eisenheim can perform ANY feat why should we worry about the ending?
In light of the awkward explanation at the end, it seems clear that the creators of this movie do not suggest that Eisenheim had supernatural abilities. In retrospect, it might have been a more satisfying resolution if we learned that the magician, indeed, was a member of the dark side; e.g., this may have lent some substance to the Inspector's anxiety about whose side he should have been on. In sum, taking away the mystery about Eisenheim the man and asking viewers to simply take for granted that the magician can do anything imaginable, we are left with a boring story with a predictable ending. That is not magic at all.