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FantasyDramaThrillerRomance

The Illusionist

- Nothing is what it seems

With his eye on a lovely aristocrat, a gifted illusionist named Eisenheim uses his powers to win her away from her betrothed, a crown prince. But Eisenheim's scheme creates tumult within the monarchy and ignites the suspicion of a dogged inspector.

Release Date : 2006-08-18

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Contagious EntertainmentMichael London ProductionsKoppelman-Levien

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Edward Norton

Character Name : Eisenheim

Original Name : Edward Norton

Gender : Male

Paul Giamatti

Character Name : Inspector Uhl

Original Name : Paul Giamatti

Gender : Male

Jessica Biel

Character Name : Sophie

Original Name : Jessica Biel

Gender : Female

Rufus Sewell

Character Name : Crown Prince Leopold

Original Name : Rufus Sewell

Gender : Male

Eddie Marsan

Character Name : Josef Fischer

Original Name : Eddie Marsan

Gender : Male

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Character Name : Young Eisenheim

Original Name : Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Gender : Male

Eleanor Tomlinson

Character Name : Young Sophie

Original Name : Eleanor Tomlinson

Gender : Female

Jake Wood

Character Name : Jurka

Original Name : Jake Wood

Gender : Male

Tom Fisher

Character Name : Willigut

Original Name : Tom Fisher

Gender : Male

Karl Johnson

Character Name : Doctor / Old Man

Original Name : Karl Johnson

Gender : Male

Vincent Franklin

Character Name : Loschek

Original Name : Vincent Franklin

Gender : Male

Nicholas Blane

Character Name : Herr Doebler

Original Name : Nicholas Blane

Gender : Male

Philip McGough

Character Name : Dr. Hofzinser

Original Name : Philip McGough

Gender : Male

Erich Redman

Character Name : Count Rainer

Original Name : Erich Redman

Gender : Male

Michael Carter

Character Name : Von Thurnburg

Original Name : Michael Carter

Gender : Male

Andreas Grothusen

Character Name : Eisenheim's Father

Original Name : Andreas Grothusen

Gender : Male

Brian Caspe

Character Name : Eisenheim's Assistant

Original Name : Brian Caspe

Gender : Male

Ellen Savaria

Character Name : Mrs. Uhl

Original Name : Ellen Savaria

Gender : Female

Vítězslav Bouchner

Character Name : Sophie's Driver

Original Name : Vítězslav Bouchner

Gender : Male

David O'Kelly

Character Name : Archduke

Original Name : David O'Kelly

Gender : Male

Richard Rowlands

Character Name : Archduke

Original Name : Richard Rowlands

Gender : Male

Reuben-Henry Biggs

Character Name : Frankel

Original Name : Reuben-Henry Biggs

Gender : Male

Robert Russell

Character Name : Spiritualist Leader

Original Name : Robert Russell

Gender : Male

Noel Le Bon

Character Name : Arrested Man

Original Name : Noel Le Bon

Gender : Female

David Fellowes

Character Name : Respectable Man

Original Name : David Fellowes

Gender : Male

Jan Nemejovský

Character Name : Senior Officer

Original Name : Jan Nemejovský

Gender : Male

Ivo Novák

Character Name : Senior Officer

Original Name : Ivo Novák

Gender : Male

Vladimír Kulhavý

Character Name : Train Conductor

Original Name : Vladimír Kulhavý

Gender : Male

Duke Faeger

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Duke Faeger

Gender : Male

Brendan Gunn

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Brendan Gunn

Gender : Male

Ryan James

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Ryan James

Gender : Male

Petr Meissel

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Petr Meissel

Gender : Male

Jeff Smith

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Jeff Smith

Gender : Male

Ivan Urbánek

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Ivan Urbánek

Gender : Male

James Babson

Character Name : Young Father (uncredited)

Original Name : James Babson

Gender : Male

Jaroslav Vízner

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Jaroslav Vízner

Gender : Male

Jiří Vacek

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Jiří Vacek

Gender : Male

Noelle Trkulja

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Noelle Trkulja

Gender : Female

Anezka Novak

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Anezka Novak

Gender : Female

Alistair Macnaughtan

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Alistair Macnaughtan

Gender : Male

Nancy Bishop

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Nancy Bishop

Gender : Female

John Early

Character Name : Man on Street

Original Name : John Early

Gender : Male

Eva Kelemenová

Character Name : Sobbing Woman

Original Name : Eva Kelemenová

Gender : Female

Alfred Strejček

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Alfred Strejček

Gender : Male

Fasihiddin Khasanov

Character Name : Boy Apparition in Audience

Original Name : Fasihiddin Khasanov

Gender : Male

Jan Cibulka

Character Name : Boy Apparition on Stage

Original Name : Jan Cibulka

Gender : Male

Erdenbileg Sengee

Character Name : Asian Assistant

Original Name : Erdenbileg Sengee

Gender : Male

Sondom Nararbadrakh

Character Name : Asian Assistant

Original Name : Sondom Nararbadrakh

Gender : Male

Cheng Feng

Character Name : Asian Assistant

Original Name : Cheng Feng

Gender : Male

Purevdorj Boldsaikhan

Character Name : Asian Assistant

Original Name : Purevdorj Boldsaikhan

Gender : Male

Vadam Bat-Orshikh

Character Name : Asian Assistant

Original Name : Vadam Bat-Orshikh

Gender : Male

Robin Ferenc

Character Name : Street Urchin

Original Name : Robin Ferenc

Gender : Male

Dominik Havelka

Character Name : Street Urchin

Original Name : Dominik Havelka

Gender : Male

Elias Bauer

Character Name : Street Urchin Messenger

Original Name : Elias Bauer

Gender : Male

Thomas McEnchroe

Character Name : Aristocratic Boy

Original Name : Thomas McEnchroe

Gender : Male

Oliver Blaha

Character Name : Aristocratic Boy

Original Name : Oliver Blaha

Gender : Male

Laurie Athey

Character Name : Aristocratic Boy

Original Name : Laurie Athey

Gender : Male

David Forest

Character Name : Traveling Magician

Original Name : David Forest

Gender : Male

Matthew Blood-Smyth

Character Name : Man Who Incites Riot

Original Name : Matthew Blood-Smyth

Gender : Male

Vanessa Gendron

Character Name : Shouting Woman

Original Name : Vanessa Gendron

Gender : Male

Reviews

G

GeekMasher

@GeekMasher

2021-06-23

When I looked at this film for the first time I was unsure it would be any good... I was completely amazed by how this film was good. The actors all played there role very well. The film has a very good storyline and I was compelled to watch it. All in all a great movie, worth watching.

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Life and death. Space and time. Fate and chance. Theses are the forces of the universe. The Illusionist is directed by Neil Burger and Burger adapts the screenplay from "Eisenheim the Illusionist" written by Steven Millhauser. It stars Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel and Rufus Sewell. Music is by Philip Glass and cinematography by Dick Pope. How splendid, a period romantic mystery that's filled with the mysticism of magical conjurings and political volatility. Plot essentially has Norton as Eisenheim The Illusionist, who later in life runs into Sophie (Biel), his childhood sweetheart, and finds that she's on course to marry Crown Prince Leopold (Sewell). Leopold has a bad reputation and it's not long before Eisenheim comes under Leopold's disdain, forcing Eisenheim to try and pull off the ultimate magic act to save Sophie and himself. Creator Neil Burger crafts a picture that has everything going for it. The story is rock solid with intrigue credentials, where appropriately for a story based around magic tricks nothing is ever as it seems. The period flavours are smartly assembled, the Czech Republic locations smartly standing in for turn of the century Vienna, the art production is on point with the era of setting, as is the costuming. Glass drifts a tender melancholic score over the piece, while Pope's cinematography is simply gorgeous, offering up colour lensing that's aura enhancing, the kind you could get lost in for days. The magic tricks are beguiling, as they should be and are in fact required since the narrative tantalisingly suggests Eisenheim may have supernatural powers? The story itself has no historical worth, but is fascinating none the less. It all builds towards its revelations, and much hinges on if the pay off is worth the admission fee? Most assuredly so it is, even if from a personal point of view this writer wouldn't have minded if pic had finished five minutes before the final revelation. Either way, and with smart acting (Giamatti as the police inspector standing out) without histrionics holding things at the top end, this is delicate film making that engages the emotions fully for entertainment rewards. 8/10

J

JPV852

@JPV852

2021-06-23

Seen this movie several times over the years and still find it so entertaining and satisfying thanks in large part to Edward Norton's performance. In some ways, although not as expertly directed, I prefer this over The Prestige, which is a great movie in its own right.