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The Illusionist (2006)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
1 September 2006 (USA)
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Tagline:
Nothing is what it seems
Plot:
In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 5 wins
&
5 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(147 articles)
Aaron Johnson's Portrayal of John Lennon in Nowhere Boy Praised by Yoko Ono
(From ReelzChannel. 3 January 2010, 12:05 AM, PST)
Audio/Visual: A Decade of Music in Film
(From WeAreMovieGeeks.com. 31 December 2009, 9:08 PM, PST)
(From ReelzChannel. 3 January 2010, 12:05 AM, PST)
Audio/Visual: A Decade of Music in Film
(From WeAreMovieGeeks.com. 31 December 2009, 9:08 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
Like the Moody Blues song asks--"real or just an illusion?"
more (579 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Edward Norton | ... | Eisenheim | |
| Paul Giamatti | ... | Inspector Uhl | |
| Jessica Biel | ... | Sophie | |
| Rufus Sewell | ... | Crown Prince Leopold | |
| Eddie Marsan | ... | Josef Fischer (as Edward Marsan) | |
| Jake Wood | ... | Jurka | |
| Tom Fisher | ... | Willigut | |
| Aaron Johnson | ... | Young Eisenheim | |
| Eleanor Tomlinson | ... | Young Sophie | |
| Karl Johnson | ... | Doctor / Old Man | |
| Vincent Franklin | ... | Loschek | |
| Nicholas Blane | ... | Herr Doebler | |
| Philip McGough | ... | Dr. Hofzinser | |
| Erich Redman | ... | Count Rainer | |
| Michael Carter | ... | Von Thurnburg |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:PG-13 |
Netherlands:12 |
Finland:K-11 |
Argentina:Atp |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:PG |
Brazil:14 |
Ireland:12A |
UK:PG |
France:U |
Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
South Korea:15 |
Australia:M |
Norway:11 |
Denmark:11 |
Sweden:7
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
So that the crew would not have to use CGI to "fake" the magical illusions seen in the movie, Norton received intensive training in sleight of hand and other stage magic techniques from British magician James Freedman and American magician Ricky Jay.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: The ladies of the epoch used to ride in side saddles, not astride the horse, like the heroine does in the castle/forest scene.
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Quotes:
Crown Prince Leopold:
You're late.
Chief Inspector Uhl: My apologies, your Highness. I was attending to loose ends of the case.
Crown Prince Leopold: Are there still loose ends?
Chief Inspector Uhl: Very few.
Crown Prince Leopold: Did he do it again?
[Uhl nods]
Crown Prince Leopold: How does he do it?
Chief Inspector Uhl: I'm afraid I still don't know.
Crown Prince Leopold: Did you ask him?
Chief Inspector Uhl: He's not talking at this point.
[...]
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Chief Inspector Uhl: My apologies, your Highness. I was attending to loose ends of the case.
Crown Prince Leopold: Are there still loose ends?
Chief Inspector Uhl: Very few.
Crown Prince Leopold: Did he do it again?
[Uhl nods]
Crown Prince Leopold: How does he do it?
Chief Inspector Uhl: I'm afraid I still don't know.
Crown Prince Leopold: Did you ask him?
Chief Inspector Uhl: He's not talking at this point.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)
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FAQ
How does it end?more
more (579 total)
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Kind of a strange movie but very original and entertaining! It was a Gothic-romance period-piece drama-mystery, and quirky characters and a bizarre--or at least unusual--plot held my interest.
Edward Norton's character plays an inscrutable but romantic master illusionist. But is he just a master illusionist or has he developed powers to effect the creepy conjuring of those who have passed on? (Regardless, the guy is so easy on the eyes.)
Jessica Biel is beautiful and good in her role but I couldn't help thinking, "Hey, Jessica, Scarlett Johanssen called. She wants her lips back."
Paul Giamatti bothered me just a tad at first because he spoke in a near-whisper and had a scruffy beard so you couldn't read his lips. He got louder and his character developed pretty darned well, thank goodness. Actually, he was fantastic (so what else is new?).
The makers of this movie did the same thing the makers of Little Miss Sunshine did--made me want to see the film twice, but for different reasons: LMS because the first time I saw it, I laughed so hard I cried, and I really needed a laugh again (and got it); The Illusionist because I was like the audience for the title character's shows the first time I saw it--just kind of naive and awed and staring up at the action with my mouth hanging open. So I'll have to see it again and pay attention. Kind of like when my daughter told me to go see The Sixth Sense again and pay attention to what Bruce Willis's character was wearing. (Plot-wise, this is unrelated, folks--just a movie watcher's analogy.)
At first, the old-fashioned circle wipes seemed a little distracting, but in retrospect, they were part of the excellent movie-making decisions that created the illusion of time and place in this film. A really good story with really good art direction and really good actors, costumes and settings. Definitely worth a go-see--or two!