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The Illusionist - A Review
Sep. 3rd, 2006 03:54 pmI started out my Labor Day weekend by going to see The Illusionist. Hollywood has started its annual movie for adults season, and this movie is a good way to kick it off. Set in turn of the 20th century Vienna, this movie features a trio of solid performances by Edward Norton, Jessica Beil and Paul Giamatti.
There are two "twists" to the movie, one that modern viewers will suspect immediately, and one, where Paul Giamatti's character defies his patron. A lot of reviewers have called this movie "an interesting failure," I think because of this second twist. There are two reasons why they are labelling it so. (this will make sense after you see the movie.)
1) Giamatti's character says he's not totally corrupt, and he's correct, but that's not really shown.
2) There is a point of view failure in the movie. We see a scene in which somebody is apparently murdered, at about the halfway point. But due to the way the movie flows, Giamatti's character doesn't discover that until almost the end. Some of his actions which LOOK corrupt aren't, or are much less so.
Off to my uncle's for a cookoff.
There are two "twists" to the movie, one that modern viewers will suspect immediately, and one, where Paul Giamatti's character defies his patron. A lot of reviewers have called this movie "an interesting failure," I think because of this second twist. There are two reasons why they are labelling it so. (this will make sense after you see the movie.)
1) Giamatti's character says he's not totally corrupt, and he's correct, but that's not really shown.
2) There is a point of view failure in the movie. We see a scene in which somebody is apparently murdered, at about the halfway point. But due to the way the movie flows, Giamatti's character doesn't discover that until almost the end. Some of his actions which LOOK corrupt aren't, or are much less so.
Off to my uncle's for a cookoff.
