The Illusionist

Name: The Illusionist
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Released: August 18, 2006
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti

2006

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 573 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 573 Ratings

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The Illusionist

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Movie Details & Credits

Yari Film Group Releasing | Release Date: August 18, 2006 | PG-13

Starring: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti

Summary: Set in turn-of-the-centuy Vienna, this supernatural mystery combines romance, politics and magic. (Yari Film Group)

Director: Neil Burger

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 110 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Jonathan Rosenbaum

A lush piece of romanticism. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

The Illusionist looks rigorously styled and measured, and every one of Norton's postures feels chosen. Yet the interesting actor has chosen so thoughtfully that we're riveted. Read full review

Dana Stevens

It's an exquisitely crafted period picture that keeps promising more and more as it goes along--smarter ideas, richer themes, spookier plot twists--and keeps delivering on every promise, right up until the rug-pulling and overly hasty final sequence. Read full review

Ty Burr

Illusionist is like an overupholstered wing chair in the corner of a men's club -- you settle in only to be startled by how ridiculously comfy you are. Read full review

Carina Chocano

Sewell and Giamatti ham it up as the imperious pretender to the throne and his ambitious but conflicted minion in this uncheesy but entertainingly tricky mystery. There's more heat between the two of them than between the sappy lovers. Read full review

William Arnold

The movie also is designed to be an actor's showcase for Norton and Giamatti, two of the best movie actors of their generation. Each has his moments of fire, but some element is missing from the script that would make this duel of the titans riveting. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

The film's moody, dark palette and soft, inchoate backgrounds tend to lull the senses rather than actively engage the viewer. The magic practiced by this illusionist does not extend to the screen. Read full review

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User Reviews

GjF.

Sep 4, 2006

This movie has stayed with me for three days. It's been years since that happened.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ChrisT.

Feb 5, 2007

Brilliant! One of the best movies I have seen in a long time. It ranks up there with Shakespeare In Love, Pulp Fiction , V For Vendetta, and Fight Club! Edward Norton is the Man!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Violett

Jan 23, 2014

Awesome. Great plot, great acting. This is sort of steampunk-like movies (like Sleepy Hollow). Plot takes you from the beginning till the end, I dont want to spoil, but at the end of the movie I has the same face as of Paul Giamatti ))
Jessica Bil is very cute!

8 of 8 users found this helpful80

ClintM.

Sep 14, 2006

I absolutely loved this movie ... it's completely original, compelling all the way to the end, unique, interesting, wonderfully acted, wonderful story, very stylized filming ... all around I have 0 complaints with it. I left feeling rewarded for having come!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AlanG.

Jan 13, 2007

Those who want to try to pidgeon hole this as a murder mystery have totally missed the point. In reality it is a touching romance, but without any of the pretensious slushiness that makes most unwatchable. This was a real surprise to me - excellent acting, Paul Giamatti excellent as always Those who want to try to pidgeon hole this as a murder mystery have totally missed the point. In reality it is a touching romance, but without any of the pretensious slushiness that makes most unwatchable. This was a real surprise to me - excellent acting, Paul Giamatti excellent as always and no attempt by the 'stars' Jessica Biel and Ed Norton top steal the show by making more of their characters than they actually are. OK, the twist may be a little obvious, but for todays savvy audiences who almost expect it anyway this shouldn't be a surprise. The only real shocker here is how little coverage this moving has received.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DavidL.

Jan 24, 2007

A beautifully mounted production, but a little stilted in its execution. Everything feels too staged...too rehearsed. Perhaps that was done purposefully. Still, I could not take my eyes off of this film. It has its mesmerizing moments, particularly in the performance of Edward Norton. Paul A beautifully mounted production, but a little stilted in its execution. Everything feels too staged...too rehearsed. Perhaps that was done purposefully. Still, I could not take my eyes off of this film. It has its mesmerizing moments, particularly in the performance of Edward Norton. Paul Giamatti, once again, asserts himself as one of our very best actors working in film today.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Prabhath

Nov 15, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Could have build up the character of Crown Prince establishing him as a
cruel person.....there isn't even one scene at least to establish
that....He didn't seem to me as a Villain.....Actually I felt sorry for
him being failed by his man, the foolish chief inspector.....And for
the surprise element its easy for any film buff to guess that she
(Biel) was not actually murdered at that night....and from there it is
just impatient watch till the climax....which ends making us (atleast
people like me) feeling sorry for the Prince and I just couldn't watch
that foolish Inspector laughing for being fooled and lost the Prince
with his incapacity. And there's one question - Since she is a Duchess
the royal families must have attended her funeral.....And if there
isn't any funeral and they haven't attended then she must be alive
somewhere else.....Steven Millhauser...… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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34	#34 Most Discussed Movie of 2006
51	#51 Most Shared Movie of 2006