"The Illusionist" Movie Review

A brilliant magician uses his startling powers to shake the foundations of an empire in this timeless story set in Vienna during the Victorian age. "The Illusionist" is a universally crowd-pleasing tale that offers mystery, suspense and romance in a uniquely eye-pleasing way. Told as a flashback narrated by the ambitious and inquisitive Chief Inspector Uhl, the film is immediately captivating in its ability to capture a sense of being witness to the 19th century, and the extraordinary events unfolding.

As the story begins, a magician known as Eisenheim the Illusionist is being arrested amidst great consternation on the stage of a shabby performance hall. As the events leading up to the moment are recounted, we discover how, as the poor son of a carpenter, The Illusionist's future was ordained by his chance encounter with a mystical old man and his love for the daughter of a nobleman. As Eisenheim's love for the Duchess von Taschen leads him into an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse with Inspector Uhl and with her fiancée the Crown Prince of Austria, the decisions made carry consequences of life and death.

Edward Norton's performance as Eisenheim expresses the conjurer's supreme confidence in mastery of magic, with his only weakness being his all-consuming love for the Duchess Sophie. When the irresistible force of Eiseneheim's powers confront the immovable object of the willful and cruel Crown Prince, tragedies befall which effect everything.

Rufus Sewell displays a frightening intensity as Crown Prince Leopold, a man with nearly unlimited power over his subjects. In moments when the imperious facade of the ruler cracks briefly, Sewell shows his brilliant subtlety as an actor. Jessica Biel is impressive in a role that will redefine her as an actress, confidently and effortlessly becoming a noblewoman of the times. Paul Giamatti, in a role reminiscent of police inspectors out of Dostoyevsky or Dickens, elicits respect, sympathy and humor while perfectly playing his part as the lynchpin around which all events are moving.

"The Illusionist" was beautifully filmed in Prague with new technology that lends an amazing look of luminous antiquity to every scene, with costumes by Ngila Dickson who costumed the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Philip Glass composed the mesmerizing score, mixing his signature style of kalidoscopic arpeggios with a symphonic warmth befitting the period.

The pleasure of "The Illusionist" lies in the sense of delight at so many expressions of genius on display in a work of playfully dramatic elegance.