The Illusionist (2006)

In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing.

Director:

Neil Burger

Writers:

Neil Burger (screenplay), Steven Millhauser (short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist")

Stars:

Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 10 nominations.

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 Taylor-Johnson	...	Young Eisenheim (as Aaron Johnson)
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

Storyline

In late nineteenth century Vienna, renowned illusionist Eisenheim is reunited with the Duchess von Teschen when she is volunteered from the audience to participate in an illusion during one of his performances. Despite having not seen each other in fifteen years when they were teenagers, they almost immediately recognize each other as Eduard Abramovich and Sophie von Teschen, they who had a doomed romance at that time due to their class differences. The Duchess is soon to be wed to the Crown Prince Leopold in what would be for him a marriage solely in pursuit of power: overthrowing his father, the Emperor Leopold, as well as overtaking the Hungarian side of the empire. The Crown Prince is known to use violence against women if it suits his needs or purposes. As such, the Duchess, who realizes that she still loves Eisenheim and he her, can never leave the Crown Prince without it jeopardizing her life. After Eisenheim humiliates the Crown Prince at a private show which results in an ...

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Plot Keywords:

magician | letter | castle | austria | little boy | 

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Taglines:

Nothing is what it seems

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Czech Republic

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

El ilusionista

Filming Locations:

Prague Castle, Hradcany, Prague, Czech Republic

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$927,956, 20 August 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$39,868,642

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$87,892,388

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bull's Eye Entertainment, Bob Yari Productions, Contagious Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Inspector Uhl approaches Prince Leopold while hunting, to inform him of Eisenheim and Sophie's meetings, the Prince asks what they were seen doing together. The line asking if they were seen "fornicating" was originally filmed as "fucking." It was overdubbed to avoid an "R" Rating. MPAA policy stated that "fuck" could not be used to refer to intercourse in a PG-13 film.

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Goofs

When Edward Gives Sophie her locket at his uncle's farm at the end of the film it has a string on it instead of the gold chain it had in Vienna when he lifted it from Inspector Uhl.

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Quotes

[first lines]
woman in audience: It's her. I know it's her! She wants to tell us something.

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Connections

Featured in Jessica Biel on the Illusionist (2007)

User Reviews

One Of The Classiest Films You'll See All Year

First of all, let me say this was a beautifully-filmed movie, just gorgeous from first to last frame. That gets big points with me. Just as impressive was the story, a fantasy-mystery- romance-drama combination set in Vienna, Austria, around the turn of the 20th century.

It is a story that should keep most viewers intrigued all the way and perhaps surprised quite a bit at the end. Edward Norton does his normal job of making you fascinated with whatever character he's playing, this time a magician with almost supernatural powers: "Herr Eisenheim." The character he plays, and the tone of the movie in general, is pretty low-key with next to nothing in (on screen) violence or profanity.

It's simply a classy film and a modern-day one that older folks would very much enjoy as well as younger adults. Paul Giamatti also is very interesting as the police inspector, torn between his allegiance to the villain crown prince and to the truth and what is the right thing to do. The movie, however, belongs to Norton.

In a nutshell: good stuff, classy film. I haven't talked to anybody yet who watched this and didn't like it.