Edward Norton may never end up being the biggest name in Hollywood. But he's become a reliable performer whose involvement in a film usually means it's going to be good.
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That's just the case with "The Illusionist,” a love story/mystery in which Norton plays Eisenheim, a talented young magician who, as a teen, is pulled away from his true love, a countess played by Jessica Biel.
Based on Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist” and brilliantly adapted by first-time director Neil Burger, this 2006 film harkens back to a time when magicians weren't just performers — they were enchanters who could move entire populations for good or bad.
In turn-of-the-century Vienna, Austria, Eisenheim is reacquainted with Biel's Sophie but discovers she is doomed to an unhappy marriage with the violent tempered Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). Tragedy follows, and Eisenheim begins a personal transformation aimed at exposing Leopold's misdeeds. Magic, political intrigue and the future of an empire are at stake as Eisenheim begins to conjure images that incite the masses against their would-be leader.
Paul Giamatti complements Norton's performance, playing an inspector who shares Eisenheim's pursuit of justice, even though he's beholden to the prince. The inspector is a fan yet also a skeptic of Eisenheim's work, and is conflicted as to whether he's just another con trying to scam the local population.
"The Illusionist” is more than a great story; the cinematography and location shots in the Czech Republic are stunning, and at times it's as if one is seeing a rich landscape painting. Sadly, the DVD is missing some magic with its special features, only offering very basic commentaries.
