This movie has a few tricks up its sleeve
The Illusionist
Cast: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell
Director: Neil Burger
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Plot Summary: In historical Vienna, a stage magician sweeps into town and upsets the status quo, unleashing a series of mysterious events with his passage.
Dark and atmospheric, the Illusionist focuses on the mysterious. The main character, Eisenheim (Norton), is a bit more than a simple stage magician. His tricks are truly revolutionary, and just this side of the occult. And while the stage show may not be threatening, his relationships are. He is taken with Sophie Von Teschen (Biel), who is also under the eye of Crown Prince Leopold (Sewell).
This little love triangle is complex enough, but the magician catches the eye of the city's chief inspector Uhl (Giamatti), who takes a dim view of mysteries and this magician in particular.
The prince wishes to sway Sophie away from Eisenheim, so he uses the inspector to try to get the magician out of the picture, either arrested, killed, or out of town. The plot moves along the details of these relationships and how they change and flow, with the backdrop of the city, culture, and times lending a rich tapestry. More drama than thriller, of course, but I think it does a good job of heightening the mysterious nature of the illusionist. Nothing is, as they say, how it seems.
This is a well-made offering that should give you a few hours worth of entertainment. While it isn't great or revolutionary, it is solid and offers a few good surprises.
