The Illusionist (2006) ~Perhaps He’ll Make You Disappear...
Written (from the original short story by Steven Millhauser) and Directed by Neil Burger, The Illusionist is one of the best films of the year with one of my favorite actors, Edward Norton, who plays “two sides of a coin” to the tee with every role. The plot, scenery, and acting were all a very captivating backdrop for a story well told, complete with magic, love and mystery.
The story begins in the early 1900’s in Vienna Austria. As a young boy Eisenheim (Edward Norton) came upon a master wizard who shared a few tricks. Smitten by his Edward’s true love, Sophie (Jennifer Biel), he is inspired to be with her, well above his social class, later to be wed to the crowned Prince, Leopold (Rufus Sewell). Eisenheim and Sophie are found together hiding and are separated, because of their social disparity, only to be reunited nine years later. The story and magic soon catapults into mystery and intrigue as the two try to figure out a way to be together.
On the stage of the theatre, Eisenheim is proven to be the master of illusion. He manages to turn a seed of an orange into a fruiting tree within a few minutes, makes images appear, disappear and the best trick of all: to make a person reappear from the dead. Or does he? The Illusionist is magical in that it enlightens a sense of our “child within” and the hope that the magic before our eyes is really there.
Always the pismire who must ruin the show, Prince Leopold comprises a plan to overthrow his own father the King. He is controlling, cold and calculating, a downright nasty man who is very narcissistic.
Chief Inspector Uhl, his henchman, (Paul Giammati) is a classic oaf, wanting to be “one of the royal” gang, to fit in with the upper class. He is the son of a butcher and knows his place but cannot deny himself the power that he seems to behold as long as he has Leopold behind him. Leopold demands to know how Eisenheim does his tricks and believes with that knowledge he will keep the Illusionist from Sophie for good. Uhl is put to task but as he learns to apprciate Eisenheim and his gift, grows a conscience and questions his own loyalty to the Prince.
The movie opens with a flashback of Edward Eisenheim on the stage, seated on stage with a crowed hose. The police are standing close by and “at the ready”. His eyes focused and piercing with concentration. His hand extended as he conjures up smoke, which we later learn is a spirit. We can feel his passion, venom, and his depth as small beads of sweat form on his forehead. As the movie began, so it too ended with the answers filled in as the story unfolded. Not it all makes sense: “Nothing is as it seems…..”
Edward Norton is absolutely intoxicating as the great Edward Eisenheim. He will mesmerize, entertain and captivate you from his beginning to end. Paul Giamatti is fantastic as a typical Austrian man of the time. He is very European in his mannerisms, speech and really depicts this man perfectly. I saw Giammati in a whole new way with his portrayal. Jessica Biel was above expectation as Sophie as was Rufus as Leopold.
When the finale of the movie came, I was surprised. Some will argue that it was predictable, but there were no clichés and the story was truly one of the best of all time. Neil Burger and the rest of the cast and crew got this story right and I hope right on to an academy award!