Movie Review: The Illusionist (2006)

I think a lot of people probably view this as the poor man’s Prestige, because for whatever reason, Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige has gone down as a certified classic (even though I’m not a big fan of it and I don’t know really if it’s any better than this movie). At any rate, it’s crazy that these two period magician movies came out within a few months of each other, though this was technically first.

Edward Norton is obviously quite good as Eisenheim the Illusionist, a man that captivates all of Vienna, including the Crown Prince (Rufus Sewell) and Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti).

He also reignites some kind of previous relationship he had with a Duchess (Jessica Biel) whom the Prince is expecting to marry.

This worries both Uhl and the Prince, and when she turns up dead, Eisenheim is the primary suspect, though he and much of the Vienna public insist the Prince is likely behind it.

If you’ve seen The Prestige you can probably imagine where the story is going. Twists and turns abound, where it’s not clear if what Eisenheim is doing are actually illusions, or if there’s something supernatural.

It’s not the most satisfying story, but it’s entertaining enough. And as much as Edward Norton is quite good here, the real showstealer is Paul Giamatti.

He’s a really interesting character because he’s torn and conflicted throughout the whole thing. His loyalty to the Prince is on full display, but his interest in magic and genuine curiosity keeps him from truly hating Eisenheim, even if he believes he’s behind the murder.

I don’t think this movie will truly stick with me for a long period of time, but I’m by no means disappointed I’ve seen it. It’s pretty good.

Rating: 6/10