Wonderful Fable of Love and Illusion

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 2007)

In the turn of the Twentieth Century, in Vienna, the teenager Eduard Abramovich is the son of a cabinetmaker that becomes fascinated with magic. While practicing some tricks on the streets, he meets the upper-class Sophie, they become friends and later they fall in love for each other. When they are separated by Sophie's family, the broken-hearted Eduard travels to the Far East and fifteen years later he returns to Vienna as a famous illusionist with a different name, Eisenheim (Edward Norton). While performing a show in the presence of the ambitious and ruthless Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) and the corrupt Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti), Sophie (Jessica Biel) volunteers for a trick on the stage and they immediately recognize each other. The flame of their passion bursts, but Sophie is engaged of Leopold, as part of his political game to be crowned king with the support of Hungary in a coup d'état against his father. Sophie and Eisenheim plan to runaway together, but when the drunken Leopold discloses their intention, he apparently kills Sophie. The grieving Eisenheim brings his Chinese acquaintances and performs an amazing show, where nothing is what it seems.
"The Illusionist" is a wonderful fable of love and illusion, one of the best movies I have recently seen. The original and excellent story is disclosed in an intelligent screenplay, magnificent cinematography and beautiful music score. The direction is stunning and the performances are fantastic, highlighting Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti in an upper level, immediately followed by Rufus Sewell and Jessica Biel, who shows a great chemistry with Edward Norton. The twist is spectacular, and after watching this great movie, I realized how dirty the political game in the Oscar is, where nothing is what it seems, selecting "The Departed" as Best Movie just because of the name of Martin "obsessed for Oscar" Scosese. Honestly, there is no comparison between the boring, unrealistic and overrated "The Departed" and this overwhelming and mesmerizing "The Illusionist". My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): "O Ilusionista" (The Illusionist")