Illusion (2004)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Michael A. Goorjian

Writers:

Tressa DiFiglia (writer)
Michael A. Goorjian (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The only person who could change the story of his life...was the father he never knew.

Plot:

A once-powerful, but now ailing movie director nears the end of his life. As he awaits death, he slips...

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Kirk Douglas	...	Donald Baines
Michael A. Goorjian	...	Christopher
Karen Tucker	...	Isabelle
Bryan Cranston	...	David
Richmond Arquette	...	Mortimer
Ron Marasco	...	Stan
Ted Raimi	...	Ian
Kristen Clement	...	Sara
Kevin Weisman	...	Kay
Ronald Víctor García	...	Andrew
Michael Kemmerling	...	Seymour
Jules Bruff	...	Renee
Nancy Jeffries	...	Anastasia
Steve Chabon	...	Bishop
Gibson Frazier	...	Interviewer

Also Known As:

The Ilusion (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence.

Runtime:

USA:106 min (Hamptons Film Festival) | USA:106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Oakland, California, USA

Company:

Daniel Fried Productions

Trivia:

Goorjian started out with practically no script. First, he shot the "teenage" film, then went to the goth film, and finally the ending. He then approached Kirk Douglas to offer him a role in the movie.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: The story doesn't end when you get here, like you think it might. All the mortal pieces have scattered, but the impressions remain. Every last one of them.

One for the Ages!

The "Illusion" reminds me of Cinema Paradiso and Broadway Danny Rose in that it challenges the viewer to suspend its belief and follow the fantasy of second chances and missed opportunities. This is done in an effective manner with the main characters played by Kirk Douglas and Mike Goorjian.

The challenges of the film are evident in how much to show both the viewer and Douglas' character without giving away the whole truth. Goorjian's character is consistently interesting in that with no direct intervention of a patriarch, he is destined to attack life in unconventionally original ways. An example of this is the wooing of his first and only love by round-robin poetry. Douglas is very engaging, searching for his son through the only medium which he can relate-cinema. Understandably, neither character changes, until the very end.

It is a sad statement on the affairs of father/son relationships. Not being able/unwilling to relate seems to be the common theme in this film. However, when it counts, a true father's voice will always ring loud and clear. The performances are consistent and distant at the same time.

This is clearly a complex film which simply describes lost relationships rediscovered in the only medium that can truly impacts everyone. Yet its appeal can translate to all ages.

This film should be seen all and I feel that Kirk Douglas may finally have found his first Oscar.