The Bottom Line
Pros
- Clever, well-crafted movie with appealing locations in Czech Republic
- Fine ensemble acting and strong performances by Paul Giamatti and Edward Norton
- Interesting look at the world of the stage magician circa 1900
Cons
- Film has very little emotional resonance
- Movie does not capture the feel of the historical period in which the story takes place
- Magic tricks shown on film don't have same impact as illusions performed for a live audience
Description
- DVD containing movie The Illusionist (2006)
- Film stars Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell and Jessica Biel
- DVD provides feature-length audio commentary by writer-director Neil Burger
- DVD contains a four-minute making-of featurette
- DVD has a one-and-a-half-minute featurette where actress Jessica Biel talks about the movie
- MPAA rating: PG-13 for some sexuality and violence
- Feature film run time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- DVD release date: January 9, 2007
Guide Review - The Illusionist DVD Review
Set in Vienna circa 1900, The Illusionist is a slick, entertaining and intricate yarn told by a law enforcement official, Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti). The inspector finds himself caught up in the conflict between the astonishing stage magician Eisenheim (Edward Norton) and the ruthless Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) over the beautiful Sophie (Jessica Biel). But Uhl knows the fate of all Austria-Hungary is at stake because Leopold is scheming to become emperor.
The narrative structure of The Illusionist is that of a clever mystery story. For the careful observer, there are many clues along the way that things may not be as they seem. By the end Chief Inspector Uhl has finally figured out what must have happened, or at least he believes he has.
The Illusionist is well-acted and well-crafted. The location shooting in the Czech Republic helped make the film visually interesting. However, the movie never pulled me in emotionally.
The primary bonus material on the DVD is the feature-length audio commentary by writer-director Neil Burger. If you feel puzzled by parts of the film, his remarks should clear everything up for you, including how the old-time illusionists performed their tricks. The only other extras on the DVD are brief: a four-minute making-of featurette and a one-and-a-half-minute featurette where actress Jessica Biel talks about the movie.
I recommend this DVD on the basis of the combination of the bonus materials and the entertainment value of the feature film.
