Movies: The Illusionist

I've never been a fan of the twist/sudden revelation style of ending. In my opinion, it cheapens a movie - while the first time you see "The Usual Suspects" or "The Sixth Sense" might be fun, the realization that the director is simply playing a game with the audience is always close at hand upon susequent viewings.

Unfortunately, "The Illusionist" suffers from this particular screenwriters' malaise. Edward Norton plays a magician who falls in love with a duchess; the fallout that results from the forbidden love (this is late nineteenth century Vienna, I believe) occupies the majority of the running time. While some real life sleight of hand is employed, many of the illusions are depressingly CGI.

The production values are great (though Phillip Glass' score can get a little self-conscious), the directing is competent, and the acting - especially Paul Giamatti's work - is fine. I've said it before, though - all the great trappings in the world cannot save a mediocre story. From the halfway mark, astute viewers will have surmised what may (or may not be) going on behind the scenes, so to speak. To bludgeon people at the very end of the movie with an explanation of the "twist" is borderline insulting, and lessens the film's emotional thrust.

6/10