Fantastic Smart Fantasy

Rating: 9/10 (11 September 2013)

The was the first movie I've seen with Jessica Biel and the second for Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, "The Hulk" and "Big Fat Liar," respectively. I've always enjoyed period movies, plus this is highlighted by a grand Austrian setting and fine performances. Norton plays magician who as a poor boy who loses his true love played as an adult as Jessica Biel and Paul Giamatti is the police inspector trying to understand their precarious secret love under the suspicions of a local prince. There are a few parallels to the "Moulin Rouge," but this movie is accentuated by a top-notch plot incorporating a mystery and suspense into a love story. Placed in the late 19th century, I was expecting maybe a Houdini reference, maybe more historical details to place the movie, but knowing when it happens is not nearly as important. The movie is actually nothing but a love story with mystical and mysterious overtones as unlike Houdini, Norton's character embraces Spiritualism to force a confession from the prince who has murdered his lady love, or so it seems, but as his character reveals, nothing is ever as it seems.