The Painted Veil
Norton had two major film roles in 2006, starring as Eisenheim the magician in "The Illusionist" and bacteriologist Walter Fane in "The Painted Veil". Set in 19th-century Austria-Hungary, "The Illusionist" was loosely based on novelist Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist" and received generally positive critical reviews. The "San Francisco Chronicle" dubbed the film "rich and elegant" and wrote of Norton's character: "he doesn't just seduce the on-screen audience but the audience watching in the movie theater". The "Houston Chronicle" similarly lauded the film for its vibrant plot and described Norton's performance as "mysterious and understated". Norton co-produced "The Painted Veil", in which he starred with Naomi Watts, who portrayed his character's unfaithful wife. Like his previous venture, "The Painted Veil" garnered positive feedback from reviewers. "The Guardian" applauded the film as "faultless" and "powerful" as well as Norton's "genuinely affecting" performance. "Entertainment Weekly" appreciated that Norton's production effort did not affect his conventionally compelling acting.