Review: The Illusionist
Written and Directed by Neil Buger
based on the short story "Eiseheim the Illusionist"
Starring: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, and Rufus Sewell
A lot of movies can be summed up in one word. Fantastic. Terrible. Magnficent. Abysmal.
The Illusionist is not one of those movies, but if i had to choose one word that would sum it up, that word would be Fascinating. The movie was fascinating from scene one, and while it struggled a tiny bit to get its bearings and get up on its feet, once it does, there is no stopping it. It is a movie to be seen and to be talked about.
The story follows Edward Norton's Eisenheim as he comes back from an absense (explained in a flashback or two) and how he rises to fame doing magic tricks which seem all too real. One night he preforms to the Crown Prince (Rufus Sewell), and his fiance, Sophie(Jessica Biel). Sophie is voluneteered by the crown prince for one of Eisenheim's greatest tricks, and when the meet eyes the realize that they have met before, as childhood sweethearts (see: flashbacks). The Crown Prince is amused, but thinks he can prove the tricks to be false, and invites Eisenheim to his house to preform for his friends. At this fateful night, the wise magician makes a fool out of the Crown Prince, which gets his show shut down...
It is at this point that Sophie feels the need to be with Eisenheim, and begins to sneak out to see him...and dastardly plans unfold to bring down the Crown Prince (who has dasatdly plans all of his own) which is where things turn south. This concludes the description part of my review, because i would end up spoiling way to much, and you know what? I want you to see this for yourselves.
The movie is amazing, due mostly to its wonderful cast. It felt like watching a play unfold, rather than a movie, and a well done play at that. Ed Norton gives his all, as usual to his character, and in doing so creates a lovable magician, whose triumphs uplift the sould, and whose misfortunes sadden us. Paul Giamatti gives a preformance that should (but most likley won't) get him an Oscar Nomination, as it is a far strech from his usual character, and it is done with grace and elegance. he litterally steals the show, and if you don't come out of the movie loving his Chief Inspector, i will say you are a Decepticon...friggin robots. Jessical Biel...ah, the actress I have never ever liked. Her body...fantastic! but to sum up my feelings about her personally...I was disappointed when she escaped at the end of 2003's Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but here, in this film she gives a pretty good preformance, nothing over the ordinary, and nothing particually praise worthy, but it wasn't annoying, and it wasn't bad. good job, Jessica, keep up the good work. Rufus? well. He gives the same preformance that he gave in last years sequel to Zorro, but with more passion, and one hell of a better movie behind him. Its angry, its villianous, and it wins a place in my book as one of the better villian preformances of the year.
Over all the film works on every level after it brushes itself off and puts some ointment on the knee-scrapes it got from its early falter. The film works, and if you pay attention to the entire thing, you get a cool surprise in the ending...you'll actually understand what's happening.
It did fantastic this weekend, so expect to see it in more theaters soon, and then check it out, and if it ignores your city, then when DVD comes out, rent it...hell, buy it, i liked it that much. I know I will be.
8.4/10
Written and Directed by Neil Buger
based on the short story "Eiseheim the Illusionist"
Starring: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, and Rufus Sewell
A lot of movies can be summed up in one word. Fantastic. Terrible. Magnficent. Abysmal.
The Illusionist is not one of those movies, but if i had to choose one word that would sum it up, that word would be Fascinating. The movie was fascinating from scene one, and while it struggled a tiny bit to get its bearings and get up on its feet, once it does, there is no stopping it. It is a movie to be seen and to be talked about.
The story follows Edward Norton's Eisenheim as he comes back from an absense (explained in a flashback or two) and how he rises to fame doing magic tricks which seem all too real. One night he preforms to the Crown Prince (Rufus Sewell), and his fiance, Sophie(Jessica Biel). Sophie is voluneteered by the crown prince for one of Eisenheim's greatest tricks, and when the meet eyes the realize that they have met before, as childhood sweethearts (see: flashbacks). The Crown Prince is amused, but thinks he can prove the tricks to be false, and invites Eisenheim to his house to preform for his friends. At this fateful night, the wise magician makes a fool out of the Crown Prince, which gets his show shut down...
It is at this point that Sophie feels the need to be with Eisenheim, and begins to sneak out to see him...and dastardly plans unfold to bring down the Crown Prince (who has dasatdly plans all of his own) which is where things turn south. This concludes the description part of my review, because i would end up spoiling way to much, and you know what? I want you to see this for yourselves.
The movie is amazing, due mostly to its wonderful cast. It felt like watching a play unfold, rather than a movie, and a well done play at that. Ed Norton gives his all, as usual to his character, and in doing so creates a lovable magician, whose triumphs uplift the sould, and whose misfortunes sadden us. Paul Giamatti gives a preformance that should (but most likley won't) get him an Oscar Nomination, as it is a far strech from his usual character, and it is done with grace and elegance. he litterally steals the show, and if you don't come out of the movie loving his Chief Inspector, i will say you are a Decepticon...friggin robots. Jessical Biel...ah, the actress I have never ever liked. Her body...fantastic! but to sum up my feelings about her personally...I was disappointed when she escaped at the end of 2003's Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but here, in this film she gives a pretty good preformance, nothing over the ordinary, and nothing particually praise worthy, but it wasn't annoying, and it wasn't bad. good job, Jessica, keep up the good work. Rufus? well. He gives the same preformance that he gave in last years sequel to Zorro, but with more passion, and one hell of a better movie behind him. Its angry, its villianous, and it wins a place in my book as one of the better villian preformances of the year.
Over all the film works on every level after it brushes itself off and puts some ointment on the knee-scrapes it got from its early falter. The film works, and if you pay attention to the entire thing, you get a cool surprise in the ending...you'll actually understand what's happening.
It did fantastic this weekend, so expect to see it in more theaters soon, and then check it out, and if it ignores your city, then when DVD comes out, rent it...hell, buy it, i liked it that much. I know I will be.
8.4/10
zombiesdontrun:
thanks donald, gotta check that out