A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Illusionist

Date Viewed: 8/27/06, 10/1/06

Details:

Edward Norton (Eisenheim)

Paul Giamatti (Chief Inspector Uhl)

Jessica Biel (Sophie)

Rufus Sewell (Crown Prince Leopold)

Written & directed by: Neil Burger

Score: Philip Glass

Score: +1/2

The Review: Excellent costume drama combining an intricate puzzle plot, turn-of-the-century Vienna, a romance, rebellious politics and some curious magic.

After wandering the globe to complete his training as an illusionist, the great Eisenheim (Norton) returns to Vienna (near the end of the Austro-Hungarian empire) and sets himself up as a stage performer of quite dazzling magic tricks. He attracts the attention not only of the crown prince (Sewell), but also the prince's fiance Sophie (Biel) and, ultimately, the Vienna chief inspector Uhl (Giamatti). A childhood love combines with some royal connivance, leading to tragic consequences and some stunning & controversial illusions.

Although Norton is very good in the title role, the turn by Giamatti as chief inspector is excellent and worth the entire price of admission -- just enough personal interest, a sense of humor, a Holmesian sensitivity to misdirection, strong personal ethics: a role in which I like him far better than his more popular (and ethically challenged) turn in Sideways. Biel has traveled quite far since her Flashdance and Bride days, and is still quite intriguing. The street scenes appear quite convincing, but much of the filming was not done in Vienna.

The structure of time is a bit malleable, and the majority of the film is a story-telling subroutine. Pay attention to the narrator and point-of-view, and you may solve the puzzle in real-time, something that I missed the first time through.

Good and surprisingly effective score by Philip Glass, whose film scores (including Kundun) end up being much more interesting than his classical compositions.

(29-Oct-06)

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