Old fashioned twist-in-the-tale thriller

Rating: 6/10 (7 May 2007)

The reviews over here have been pretty much up and down on "The Illusionist" but I must confess I really enjoyed it.
Edward Norton is very serious (is he ever anything but serious?), Paul Giamatti is charming and ambiguous, Rufus Sewell is back to his hissable villain best and Jessica Biel gives a performance, rather than just being eye candy. (I never knew she had it in her.) They made the movie happen.
Forget any comparisons with "The Prestige" (a superior film), "The Illusionist" is really an old fashioned twist in the tale thriller, concerned with slight of hand and fooling the audience. What you think is going on might not be what is going on. It's not completely successful. Maybe I've just seen too many movies, because I guessed what was happening about half way through. However, it didn't spoil it. Sometimes the predictable clockwork plot can be comforting. I'll also say that "The Illusionist" looks wonderful. All monochrome, browns and greys. Really atmospheric. Horses, gaslight, smoke and mirrors. I love the whole look of Victorian-era set movies.