Production
About
A supernaturally talented magician attempts to undermine the rigid social structure of turn-of-the-century Vienna by using his powers to win the love of his upper-class, childhood sweetheart in director Neil Burger’s cinematic adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steven Millhauser’s short story. Though the ill-fated childhood romance between cabinetmaker’s son Eisenheim (Edward Norton) and upper-class Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel) eventually resulted in the heartbroken young man leaving Austria to explore the world, his dreams of one day reuniting with the beautiful duchess never faded. Upon returning to Vienna 15 years later as a talented and renowned illusionist, Eisenheim’s hopes of a reunion seem dashed when he learns that Sophie is currently engaged to the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). As the tensions between the Eisenheim and Leopold elevate, urbane Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) finds his sympathy toward Eisenheim growing, despite his formal obligations to the powerful prince.
Video
Press / Reviews
Straddles fascination and irritation
Unabashedly old-fashioned and fantastically pulpy.
A wonderful period film first and secondarily an interesting mystery-romance that keeps you guessing about the big questions until late in the narrative.
Dark, dazzling turns by Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel makes it achingly romantic.
A magical and engrossing experience where nothing is ever what it seems.
The legerdemain of The Illusionist is done with more finesse…it is that feeling of elation that makes it magic.
The Illusionist is a deceptively simple yet magical cinematic experience.