Short Movie Review: The Illusionist
An absolute gem of a movie, with sterling performances from Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Rufus Sewell. Jessica Biel is adequate as Norton’s paramour, but it is truly the gentlemen in this movie who absolute disappear into their roles. Watching Norton afterwards in the “making of” featurette, I was struck once again by what a consummate actor he is—I ceased to think about him as Edward Norton while I watched the movie, which is the highest praise I can offer a performer. The plot revolves around a marvelous magician in 19th century Vienna, his relationship with a duchess (who’s also involved with the crown prince), and the detective who attempts to uncover his secrets—to say any more would be to reveal the secrets of the movie itself. I think there’s much to be said about narrative in this movie, and how storytelling is itself a magic trick—or an illusion. This film occasioned many comparisons to The Prestige, which also dealt with 19th century magicians and came out at the same time. While I haven’t seen it yet (though I have read the book), I intend to in the near future.
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