Plot
A French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever.
Storyline Details the story of a dying breed of stage entertainer whose thunder is being stolen by emerging rock stars. Forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theaters, garden parties and bars, he meets a young fan who changes his life forever.
Writers: Jacques Tati, Sylvain Chomet
Cast: Jean-Claude Donda
-
The Illusionist
/
French Cinema Manager
(voice)
Eilidh Rankin
-
Alice
(voice)
Duncan MacNeil
-
Additional Voices
(voice)
Raymond Mearns
-
Additional Voices
(voice)
James T. Muir
-
Additional Voices
(voice)
Tom Urie
-
Additional Voices
(voice)
Paul Bandey
-
Additional Voices
(voice)
Opening Weekend: £164,950
(UK)
(22 August 2010)
(42 Screens)
Gross: $2,231,024
(USA)
(8 May 2011)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
USA:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
When Jacques tries to hide from the girl, he ends up in a theater, The Cameo, where
Mon Oncle by Jacques Tati is shown. "L'illusionniste"'s script was first written by Tati, whose figure and character was taken to create the main character Jacques Tatischeff (Tati's original name).
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
Despite being set in 1959/1960, the Scottish Police motorcycles have 'American-style' sirens, which were not introduced until the 1980s.
User Review
Charm over content.
Rating: 7/10
It was my great privilege to be invited to the world premiere of
Sylvain Chomet's follow up to Belleville Rendez-Vous.
Set in Edinburgh and produced by an old pal of mine, Bob Last, I had
very high expectations indeed. Not least because it is not every day
that one of the world's most beautiful cities (my own) would be caught
in artful majesty for years to come. And indeed it was. Edinburgh is a
real star of this charming but very slight movie.
The city shimmers throughout, but the story sadly does not. It reminded
me of a novel by Irish writer, William Trevor, called Felicia's Journey
in which a young girl is taken into the trust of an older man. In that
book (and subsequent film starring Bob Hoskins) and this, there is a
slight air of seediness. (That's maybe going too far in the case of The
Illusionist but the comparison was palpable for me.) Why the
protection? What are the man's motives? I found it mildly
uncomfortable. The fact is, in neither case are the intentions,
apparently, anything more than protective; but somehow the feeling
persists in both that all may not be as it seems.
Belleville Rendez-Vous arrived on the film scene like a bolt from the
blue. This, sadly, suffers from that difficult second film syndrome. It
oozes class and charm from every pore. It looks sublime. But the story
(a Jaques Tati cast off) fails to deliver. It simply does not have the
muscle to sustain 90 minutes of screen time.
A real shame because it has a great deal of merit.
Plot
In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing.
Release Year: 2006
Rating: 7.6/10 (138,166 voted)
Critic's Score: 68/100
Director:
Neil Burger
Stars: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti
Storyline Eisenheim is a magician in early 1900's Vienna, who falls in love with a woman well above his social standing. When she becomes engaged to a Crown Prince, Eisenheim uses his powers to free her and undermine the stability of the royal house of Vienna.
Writers: Neil Burger, Steven Millhauser
Cast: Edward Norton
-
Eisenheim
Paul Giamatti
-
Inspector Uhl
Jessica Biel
-
Sophie
Rufus Sewell
-
Crown Prince Leopold
Eddie Marsan
-
Josef Fischer
(as Edward Marsan)
Jake Wood
-
Jurka
Tom Fisher
-
Willigut
Aaron Johnson
-
Young Eisenheim
Eleanor Tomlinson
-
Young Sophie
Karl Johnson
-
Doctor
/
Old Man
Vincent Franklin
-
Loschek
Nicholas Blane
-
Herr Doebler
Philip McGough
-
Dr. Hofzinser
Erich Redman
-
Count Rainer
Michael Carter
-
Von Thurnburg
Taglines:
Nothing is what it seems
Release Date: 1 September 2006
Filming Locations: Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
Box Office Details
Budget: $16,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $927,956
(USA)
(20 August 2006)
(51 Screens)
Gross: $84,276,175
(Worldwide)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
When Prince Leopold is approached by Inspector Uhl, while hunting, to inform him of Eisenheim and Sophie's meetings, the Prince asks what they were seen doing together. The line about if they were seen "fornicating" was originally filmed as him saying "fucking" instead. They dubbed in the word "fornicating" to avoid an R-Rating in compliance with the MPAA's policy that the f-word not be used in reference to intercourse in a PG-13 film.
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized:
When Inspector Uhl finds Leopold to tell him of Sophie and Eisenheim's relationship, Leopold asks "What where they doing? Touching? Kissing? Fornicating?" His face is only shown when he says "fornicating", but he mouths a completely different word. (see Trivia)
Quotes:
[first lines]
woman in audience:
It's her. I know it's her! She wants to tell us something.
User Review
Brilliant movie, exceptional all around
Rating: 10/10
This movie was stunning in many aspects. Visually in terms of
locations, inside and out, there was great consistency and a nothing
seemed strained. The story weaved fluidly through these locations and
seemed to make the locales a vital part of the story. Ed Norton was
mesmerizing, a superb performance that allowed the story to unfold
seemingly at his discretion. Jess Biel was very believable and
stunningly beautiful. Paul Giamatti (sp) played an admirable role and
took the viewer by surprise in many elements of the story. The story
was fresh and imaginative, very intriguing. Not as predictable as you
would think. We saw this at a Sundance screening and the entire theater
of 500+ seats was full and when the movie was over all you could hear
was excited and happy chatter, lots of applause as well. Director came
out for a Q&A after and was very amiable in answering questions. Highly
recommended!!!
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