The Illusionist

Yari Film Group Releasing | Release Date: August 18, 2006

8.6	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 581 Ratings

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User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

TerryR.Jan 21, 2007

Looks great and good performances but a little empty at heart.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

j30Dec 1, 2011

The Illusionist suffers from coming out around the same time as The Prestige (a far better movie in comparison) and a poor story line. Has anyone ever given you the "OMG" look because you haven't seen the Illusionist ?

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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dajhornApr 13, 2014

The acting was brilliant and the production was perfect, but the plot of The Illusionist is too cliched. If this movie was made with fewer special effects, then the not-so-twist ending might have been more forgivable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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RegOzApr 6, 2012

Honestly, Idon't know how to express the feeling I got after I saw it. I went to the movies to watch it, and it looked so interesting that I had expectations; yet, well...I didn't get the 'wow' feeling. I perhaps should watch itHonestly, Idon't know how to express the feeling I got after I saw it. I went to the movies to watch it, and it looked so interesting that I had expectations; yet, well...I didn't get the 'wow' feeling. I perhaps should watch it again...should I? don't even remember the ending. Does that say something about how interesting it was? I guess so. I will say a 6...? I may go and watch it again! I don't want to be unfair, and I am curious to see how I feel about it this time. So far, just a 6.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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RayzorMooseNov 13, 2013

The Illusionist shows off its tricks.
The Illusionist initially has eye popping appeal with a cast of great actors. The premise itself is as mysterious as it sounds, and the result it a fine movie. It suffers though with a lack ofThe Illusionist shows off its tricks.
The Illusionist initially has eye popping appeal with a cast of great actors. The premise itself is as mysterious as it sounds, and the result it a fine movie. It suffers though with a lack of explanation for blatant phenomenon's it preforms and then ignores.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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CraigASOct 10, 2006

Looks great, but the pay-off at the end isn't big enough to justify the rest of the film. Leaves you with a "oh... and?" feeling.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

TyranianApr 10, 2019

Pretty good performances and visuals but major problems with the story that are poorly resolved.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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SEROJJul 3, 2013

I'm don't know what to say. This movie is not either bad or good. It's just so unfinished. Could be a lot better! 5/10 is my score, very boring and decent movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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ypomoniJul 5, 2013

Maybe I'm biased seeing as I saw the Illusionist after the Prestige, and yes, the two films are alike enough to be compared to one another. Whereas the Prestige seemed like something different, this film felt like a copy. E Norton was good,Maybe I'm biased seeing as I saw the Illusionist after the Prestige, and yes, the two films are alike enough to be compared to one another. Whereas the Prestige seemed like something different, this film felt like a copy. E Norton was good, but P Giamatti stole the show here. it's a shame, coz it actually had a good twist at the end… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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DouglasS.Mar 11, 2007

A wasted opportunity. It was a beautiful portrait that had drained the life out of its subject. The writing was flat, uninspired and lacked depth. I do not mind that the twist was apparent early on, but apart from narrative revelation there A wasted opportunity. It was a beautiful portrait that had drained the life out of its subject. The writing was flat, uninspired and lacked depth. I do not mind that the twist was apparent early on, but apart from narrative revelation there was nothing else for the mind to feed on. There was no real passion or magnetism to the characters, no depth to their behaviour. A tale about an illusiionist and a prince could have offered some insight into perception, the human capacity for delusion and the artifice of social hierarchy, but this tale was purely confectionary. Furthermore, it suffered from a Philip Glass score. This kind of score is insistent in its repitition, it does not vary in its constitution, it merely pauses to breathe. It is perfect for montage movies (see The Hours, Notes on a Scandal). Time passes, scenes change, but the score remains the same. It may smooth over rough edges in a film but it sucks away individual scene vitality, in favour of an overall drab consistency. It is a sure sign that a director is not doing his job. Nice lighting by Dick Pope though.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PeterF.May 27, 2007

Edward Norton doesn't phone in his performance, he sends it as an IM. How this great actor could give us such an uninspired, incoherent characterization is the only mystery worth pondering in this turgid film. And that dreadful accent! Edward Norton doesn't phone in his performance, he sends it as an IM. How this great actor could give us such an uninspired, incoherent characterization is the only mystery worth pondering in this turgid film. And that dreadful accent! At least Paul Giamatti was there to act against type and make some interesting choices. But the best acting in the world could not save a tired script and hallmark-card lighting and set-design. Painful.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MariaApr 9, 2008

Hard to sit through. ed norton is so tiresome these days. and the script was dead. did he rewrite this script too?

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JackieC.Jan 12, 2007

Edward Norton as a passionate leading man comes off more like a whimpish poser. No heat at all between the love interests. I predicted the ending well in advance without ever wanting to do so. Thank goodness for Paul Giamatti!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DougL.Nov 28, 2006

Mediocre in every sense, except perhaps Paul Giamatti. The conclusion was rather obvious and the journey there just wasn't very interesting. Plus it has a very muddy look.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

HalfwelshmanMar 31, 2012

The Illusionist is just like the worst kind of magic act. Far from being incompetent, it puts on quite a show, but never instills you with a sense of wonder, empty as it is below the surface. The cast, who look pretty good on paper, areThe Illusionist is just like the worst kind of magic act. Far from being incompetent, it puts on quite a show, but never instills you with a sense of wonder, empty as it is below the surface. The cast, who look pretty good on paper, are largely wasted, with Edward Norton being up-staged by his own beard playing Eisenheim the Illusionist, and Jessica Biel being bland and utterly forgettable as love interest Duchess Sophie von Teschen. Even the usually brilliant Eddie Marsan makes little impact, as his character, Eisenheim's manager is under-used and has very little to do. Thank goodness the film also stars Paul Giamatti, who imbues his character of Inspector Uhl with a pleasing sincerity and complex morality, and tries his very best to elevate the film's rather clunky script, and Rufus Sewell, who makes a very entertaining, menacing antagonist as the scheming Crown Prince Leopold. The film is very visually impressive, with striking cinematography and high-quality production design with some pleasing period details. Philip Glass's moody soundrack is also rather effective in maintaining a consistent tone throughout the film. Despite these positives, the Illusionist has a disappointing amount of negative counter-points. A film can be as pretty as atmospheric as you like, but when the story is dull (and by jingo, The Illusionist's is boring) and the characters unengaging, its impact, and ultimately its enjoyability is limited. I found myself comparing the film to other, better examples of its type. The Illusionist lacks the sheer beauty, playfulness and soul of Sylvain Chomet's animation of the same name, and the intricate plotting and pure entertainment value of The Prestige. It's just not particularly interesting or memorable, and is disappointingly unmagical. The Illusionist may look the part, and Giamatti and Sewell put on quite a show, but ultimately the sub-par script, underwhelming characterisation and uninvolving story threatens to ruin the film, and alarmingly often, it does. There's no fooling the audience here, the film just isn't magic.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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AshIdontthinksoMar 1, 2007

C'mon Len H. Dont make excuses for the movie. "If you have a week romantic side... this is a great movie" ??? I dont think the romantics went to watch this movie. It failed... it built up a tremendous plot, but only managed to blow hot C'mon Len H. Dont make excuses for the movie. "If you have a week romantic side... this is a great movie" ??? I dont think the romantics went to watch this movie. It failed... it built up a tremendous plot, but only managed to blow hot air in the end. Its a cop out. .... The unpredictability was in its predictability.... plus its outrageous ending and wind up. Its easy to come up with a thriller if you dont plan to reveal the answers. So what's with the butterflies... and what's with the orange tree coming to life (the picture showed mechanical instrument underneath the pot --- give me a break...) If you're into credibility of a storyline first and foremost... this one is no good. If you care about all the other stuff mentioned here, how great the cinematography or lighting is... then go for it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MovieGoerOct 16, 2006

First, to introduce myself - I adored The Age Of Innocence but disliked Pride and Prejudice. The Illusionist is a total bore - from beginning to end. The film is based on a short story. The problem is there is only enough real content for a First, to introduce myself - I adored The Age Of Innocence but disliked Pride and Prejudice. The Illusionist is a total bore - from beginning to end. The film is based on a short story. The problem is there is only enough real content for a short film - the rest of the film is filler. And the short story is not special. You've seen the basic story before and done much better. The casting is atrocious. Almost all the actors were chosen for star power rather than talent. They are all supposed to be Austrian. But the top three characters seemed like Americans with fake accents. I've realized it is quite hard to make a good film and it is entirely possible to not want to see any movie currently in release. When that happens, rent an old classic or do something else. But don't waste your money on a weak film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

rogert.Dec 11, 2006

This movie blows the twist ending. It looks like they threw it in at the last minute, and the rest of the movie is just boring anyway. Except Jessica Biel, I guess.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PrabhathNov 15, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Could have build up the character of Crown Prince establishing him as a
cruel person.....there isn't even one scene at least to establish
that....He didn't seem to me as a Villain.....Actually I felt sorry for
him being failed by his man, the foolish chief inspector.....And for
the surprise element its easy for any film buff to guess that she
(Biel) was not actually murdered at that night....and from there it is
just impatient watch till the climax....which ends making us (atleast
people like me) feeling sorry for the Prince and I just couldn't watch
that foolish Inspector laughing for being fooled and lost the Prince
with his incapacity. And there's one question - Since she is a Duchess
the royal families must have attended her funeral.....And if there
isn't any funeral and they haven't attended then she must be alive
somewhere else.....Steven Millhauser...… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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