Movie Review: The Illusionist

It's not often that a movie can leave you wondering how you never saw the trick coming. Almost every movie now has a twist, and you know it's coming, even if you don't know what that twist is.

With "The Illusionist" the twist itself was unexpected, a pleasant surprise, like the magic tricks Eisenheim 'The Illusionist' (played by Edward Nortorn) performs.
While the tale is a simple one (young, poor boy and young, rich, well-to-do girl are prohibited from seeing each other; she is taken away and they don't see each other again for years), think "Romeo and Juliet" the magic tricks and special effects are fantastic.

Set at the turn of the 19th Cenrtury, Eisenheim has dedicated his life to magic. He's traveled the world to learn his craft, venturing as far as the Orient. When he returns to Vienna, his magic draws crowds and Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). The prince is planning to marry Sophie (Jessica Biel), who turns out to be Eisenheim's long, lost love. Leopold hates that he can't discover Eisenheim's tricks. So he instructs his right-hand man, Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti), to learn Eisenheim's secrets.

At Eisenheim's first performance for the prince, he asks for a volunteer. The prince volunteers Sophie. A fantastic trick has Sophie staring into a mirror, but the image (and images) in the mirror have different reactions than what Sophie does. When Sophie first reaches the stage, Eisenheim recognizes her. She doesn't recognize him until later.

Throughout the film, Leopold has Sophie followed, what crown prince wouldn't have his fiancee followed. It's discovered she and Eisenheim have resumed an old relationship. Leopold, who's already a bit off to begin, becomes enraged. From there, Leopold threatens Sophie. He kills her, but no one other than Eisenheim wants to blame the prince.