The Illusionist (2006)

	Directed by: Neil Burger	COUNTRY Czech Republic/USA GENRE Drama/Historical/ Mystery NORWEGIAN TITLE Illusjonisten RUNNING TIME 110 minutes
	Produced by: Brian Koppelman David Levien Michael London Cathy Schulman Bob Yari
	Written by (based on a short story by Steven Millhauser): Neil Burger

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Eisenheim	Edward Norton
Chief Inspector Uhl	Paul Giamatti
Sophie	Jessica Biel
Crown Prince Leopold	Rufus Sewell
Josef Fischer	Eddie Marsan	½

Review

If you're tired of period pieces, try this one from Neil Burger. The Illusionist brings a fresh, vivid peek inside the enchanting 19th-century empire of Austria-Hungary. The film has no intention of being a truthful historical account, but it does present parallels and thematic resemblances to both the development of the empire and the actual Crown Prince Rudolf. That being said, it's the delicate, playful, and savvy story and direction by Neil Burger that is the secret here. The Illusionist is not an important film; it arguably lacks great thematic significance. Still, it is a captivating, cerebral challenge that will entertain and puzzle you – wrapped in some art-house ambience. It is also elevated by magnificent acting. Jessica Biel is almost a revelation (her reputation will enjoy a leap thanks to this), and it's great to see Edward Norton back in his right element alongside her. It is yet again Paul Giamatti who steals the show, however. He can express more with a mere look than most actors can with a pageful of lines. His performance here (including the electric closing scene) establishes him as the best character actor in the business currently. Philip Seymour Hoffman, the gauntlet is hereby thrown.