Those who don't appreciate this movie just may be one of them dudes who insists on knowing how the trick is done -- not willing to let magic just happen, but rather a self-spoiler, as it were...

The thing is that when Giomatti's character reminisces on what transpired (at the end) he puts logic into the events which was the first time that logic was seen as the explanation for what happened and not magic (he even got the plans for the orange tree trick). They took that route but still left questions unanswered and saying that logic accounts for something and everything else is magic lessened the ending for me. Still a great movie though, but would've been better had they tied it in better.

The way Giamatti figured it out at the end was the weakest part of the film for me. If they had left it a bit moe to the imagination, the film would have been a 10 for me. But that simple "explantion" brought it down a point.

I agree that the ending wasn't flawless and, on slight occasion, Norton's accent was shaky, but I still maintain it is one of the best treats to see this early fall. Everyone needs to see if before it leaves theatres.

Not sure if I ever settled on a grade; anyway, I'm giving it an A-.

Hmm, well I've been waiting all year to see a movie that could possiby work into one of my tops for the years, and Illusionist was it. It was a beautiful film to watch, every magic trick was amazing to watch. The leads were all great and Norton really continues to show why he is the most consistent actor of his generation.

I pretty much figured out the ending when the ghosts started to appear. I think the strenth though is that most of the magic tricks are never explained and its the main advantage, where as the film the Prestige is more about knowing the mechanics, which is why I cant wait for that movie either.

And I loved the score, the ending was good if not amazing, more reminded me of The Usual Suspects, but it was a solid ending to a all around solid Movie.

A+, could very well be a contender for my top film of the year.

People have different opinions. What's not to understand exactly?

It's okay, but nothing I'd seek out for a rewatch. Once was more than enough. I pretty much agree with most criticism of the film.

Grade: C+

Maybe those (like me) who didn't like the movie just... didn't like it?

Is that possible?

Yup, uh-huh, sure thing! Sorry to hear ya didn't like it.

I understand there were even some people who didn't enjoy Titanic (if ya can beleieve it!), and I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't the same kinda folk who didn't like The Illusionist too...

one of the best movies i've seen in along long time. well filmed and well acted one of nortons best.

Didnt expect a love story but it was OK. Kind of predictible, slow and rather boring at times.

C+

BJs Grade:

B+

Very predictable but I greatly enjoyed the film.

Rather predictable, but a very solid film overall. Great performances.

B+

Hmmm... not sure what I think about this one.

Norton was okay, the star of this one was Giamatti that gets to play a character other than the loveable loser (nice accent!). My main problem with it is the ending...

Neostorm said this:


I sort of agree with this. By explaining the Orange Tree and Giamatti discovering the "trick" of the entire film and by clearly showing that Norton lives it eliminates for me the idea that Giamatti's character could be interpreting the whole episode as a trick. It solidified the events of the film in a way that put them into sharp contrast with the whole "ghosts" section of the film (which basically comes to nothing).

Then it leaves one with a few more questions about whether or not, coup or not, Giamatti, as an honest policeman would care for this bait and switch which had a prince shoot himself in front of his policeman eyes just hours earlier.

I don't like it when films don't address the moral implication of framing someone for a crime and then, when said character gets thrown in jail, dies, commits suicide, etc. the film attempts to pass it off as "okay" because the guy was a villian in another aspect of their life.

If the ending had been more abstract and allowed for the mystery, I don't think those moral questions would have as much teeth.

I dunno. I will have to think about it.

I didn't think the film was too long, but I'm not really seeing the point of the whole ghosts section of the film other than to perhaps carve away for the idea that Eisenheim is actually magic, a question which is softly answered by the ending in a way... it seems like this is a different movie. Seems to me if they really wanted to frame the prince they'd just make the evidence more visible. I don't see the advantage of Giamatti being strung along like a marionette while Eisenheim could easily make an excuse to leave Vienna and rejoin his love.

Phillip Glass' score is a good one. It's a bit The Hours, but hey... it works.

I liked the film because of the setting and the mood as well as the performances - Sewell would be the one who I would consider the weak link. He's a little too over the top in some of the scenes.

The ending however is predictable like several other people have mentioned. I forget how far into the film it was, but when the train scene is first shown it gives away the ending. I guess it's set up this way so it doesn't cheat the audience, but it cheats itself out of a better ending.

Also like other people have mentioned, there's the whole ghost thing. Unless I'm completely blanking on another part of the plot, I have to agree with Andaroo in that....



The only part in which I would disagree with that is when Giamatti's character admits that he knew the Prince was going to overthrow the Monarch. So I guess that clarifies for us that Sewell's character was greedy and somewhat bad, but I don't think that's the reason why Eisenheim and Sophie tried to frame him. Maybe they weren't expecting him to kill himself.

As for the ghost trick itself, during the second "manifestation", did anyone else notice Biel's reflection behind the manifestation? Did I imagine that, or was she there to help with the trick - which used smoke and mirrors? It's a brief shot but I swear she is there. Wouldn't that go against what Eisenheim said in the train station to the old man though? Didn't Sophie leave on the train after she was "killed". Or was the time frame not as specific as I think it is. Either way I guess that would explain how the manifestation of the boy suddenly appearing on the streets. It's the same boy who gave Giamatti "The Orange Tree" book at the end right?

Okay, my brain has had enough thinking for one post. I need to stop now.

B+

I thought the whole thing was elegant and interesting but, in terms of storytelling, rather dull. The consensus here seems to be "predictable," and predictable it is; it's obvious that something's amiss when Biel's character exits the film so early and suddenly. I also found Norton rather wasted here with not much of a character to work with.

C+

Lush cinematography and some great visuals, with an interesting but underdeveloped story. The performances are okay, with Giamatti being the clear standout, between Sewell's one-note villain, Norton's lifeless character, and Biel's reduced screentime. The story is pretty good, but can't decide between romance or mystery or both, and the magic scenes - while well done - don't add a whole lot to the story. The ending feels contrived, also, as I'm unsure why the filmmakers felt the need to explain the 'illusion' that was pulled off, when none of the actual magic tricks were explained. Still, this is a well-made, old-fashioned movie, with great atmosphere and visuals.

B+


I was impressed by this one. The trailer didn't do much to me and I really had no expectations. Throughout the movie I was mildly entertained, but still didn't quite get the point of the whole thing. Then the final twist really took be aback and made me re-evaluate the whole picture... I ended up liking it a lot.

It is old-fashioned, but in a good way. I agree with those who say that the film belonged to Paul Giamatti. Norton sleepwalked through the role and Biel didn't do anything to me. Giamatti (finally not playing a loser like andaroo said!) was superb and I loved the development of his character. The score and the cinematography were very nice as well. Kypade said something about the movie looking like an old photograph coming to life and that is exactly what I thought when I saw the movie.

two hours + of my life wasted in the last three minutes of the minute. ugh. what an annoying ending...

nice score and cinematography though...

C-

Well produced, but the dialogs and first half of the story were weak. Half way through, I thought "oh, this kind of beautiful princess falling for a common guy story is getting really old, and why would you stick your face out to kiss someone in public when you two were planning something secret?" I felt bored and had it in the B-/C+ level until it finally redeemed itself the last 30 minutes, and of course the "The Usual Suspects" ending explained everything. The couple of twists in that stretch were well done.

B

B+

I enjoyed it a lot.

As for the question of what was the point of the ghost show, and setting up the Prince to either lose his empire-ship or kill himself, I think it may have been a matter of the Prince being on Norton's back enough that his life would be nearly impossible with that man controlling the world he's living in, let alone his life secretly with Biel. I think Norton wanted to keep doing magic in his life, the Prince wanted to shut down his show forever and arrest him. There is a chance that the Prince would keep track of where Norton went, if he just left one day on the train instead of 'disappearing' with his trick, and if he found the 2, he would hunt and kill them. And the Prince after all was a killer in the past by popular knowledge, remember a piece of dialog early in the film said that he pushed a woman off a balcony rather than face the shame of being accused of beating her. I also think they didn't want the empire in this man's hands.

Giamatti was excellent, Norton decent as always, and this was the first time I've appreciated Biel as an actress... This was the performance I think Scarlett Johansson's character in The Prestige should've had.

A delightful surprise indeed B+

Top 5 of 06 for sure. Norton continues to show he is a great actor and Giamatti gives another worthy performance. Even Biel gave a solid job. The ending was great and the whole storry was actually really good.

A-.

Saw this on a flight which meant I really couldn't enjoy the score or the cinematography. I thought Norton was a little wasted, but I really enjoyed Giametti. My grade: B+.

Entertaining period movie, nice atmosphere and acting. B.

Bump... for the current release of this film's Academy Award nominated animated namesake The Illusionist.

While one can see in the reviews above that this 2006 film was appreciated by KJ, The Illusionist overall did not receive the attention and accolades it so richly deserved.