An entertaining film, sumptuously designed, with a setting that is too rarely used these days, The Illusionist is nonetheless very, very silly. It’s a movie that purports to be serious about magic — even boasting a Ricky Jay consultation — but it routinely confuses prestidigitation with presto!-digital fakery that’s so unconvincing, even for fantasy, that the supposed cleverness of its ending is undermined. Giamatti turns in another shamelessly hammy supporting turn and, for once, Edward Norton sucks. There’s a really interesting film to be made about this era and this subject matter, but this isn’t it.
I should note, though, that Rufus Sewell and Eddie Marsan continue to be awesome.
by Leo Goldsmith | Source: Yari Film Group DVD Screener
26 Dec 2006 4:05 PM | Comments (1)
Wow. Edward Norton never seems to let ‘em down, but everyone has a bad day now and again. I love Giamatti, but a lot of his smaller turns seem to be far less genuine and far more calculated in their nuance, which is to say, that the Academy will eat it right up (Cinderella Man?). People encouraged this one on me earlier in the year, but I’d prefer the DVD for something that doesn’t strike me as terrible compelling.
rob
26 December 2006
4:05 PM
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