A truly magical experience; acting top notch and gorgeously filmed

Rating: 9/10 (28 August 2006)

THE ILLUSIONIST (2006) ***1/2 Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan. Absorbing adaptation of Steven Millhauser's short story about a turn-of-the-century Vienna based magician (Norton, giving another fantastic implosive turn) whose spectacular feats prove to be nothing but a plague for the jealous, and petulant crown prince (a seethingly good Sewell) and the triangle involving his childhood sweetheart and current duchess-to-be (beguiling Biel), with the town's chief inspector (Giamatti, giving another great performance as well) also caught between truth and justice. Adapted and directed by Neil Burger with deftness and aplomb and the uncanny knack of making the viewer breathless and on the-edge-of-one's-seat, the film has a beautiful production design by Ondrej Nekvasil, gorgeous cinematography by Dick Pope, ethereal music by Philip Glass and astounding visual effects by Vujtir Nykker and special effects by Ondrej Pryca that creates some jaw- dropping tricks leaving you stumped.