2 posts tagged “movie review”
"One day I happened upon a big book buried deep in the ground."
There are a lot of you out there who aren't going to like this movie. I would not recommend seeing The Illusionist if you are the kind of person who likes to figure out the mystery before it's solved, or if you're the kind of person who can't suspend disbelief.
For everyone else, The Illusionist will be a dark, mystical adventure. The movie is *not* a mystery, although there are mysteries within it. This is much more of a dramatic character study and romance than anything else. Edward Norton is just incredible in this role - his transformation from bleeding heart to a brooding, dangerous man is complex and intense. Paul Giamatti does an excellent job as the movie's "fulcrum," the man who doesn't seem to be the star of the movie, but all events have him at the center. I enjoy movies that have that subtle co-starring effect, and wish there were more of them.
Though I'm sure everyone will agree with me that the ending was NOT subtle (yes, all the loose ends are tied up almost deus-ex-machina style in 2 minutes at the very end) - you cannot argue with me about the subtle points in the rest of the movie. For example, the first scene opens with The Illusionist in a chair, staring intently at nothing, more and more intensely until it appears he's actually making an effort at something you cannot see. The audience watches for several minutes, confused and eager. Heh... ironic :) And it's not the only "hidden" artistic statement, or social comment. The movie's rich for those who seek.
For everyone else, The Illusionist will be a dark, mystical adventure. The movie is *not* a mystery, although there are mysteries within it. This is much more of a dramatic character study and romance than anything else. Edward Norton is just incredible in this role - his transformation from bleeding heart to a brooding, dangerous man is complex and intense. Paul Giamatti does an excellent job as the movie's "fulcrum," the man who doesn't seem to be the star of the movie, but all events have him at the center. I enjoy movies that have that subtle co-starring effect, and wish there were more of them.
Though I'm sure everyone will agree with me that the ending was NOT subtle (yes, all the loose ends are tied up almost deus-ex-machina style in 2 minutes at the very end) - you cannot argue with me about the subtle points in the rest of the movie. For example, the first scene opens with The Illusionist in a chair, staring intently at nothing, more and more intensely until it appears he's actually making an effort at something you cannot see. The audience watches for several minutes, confused and eager. Heh... ironic :) And it's not the only "hidden" artistic statement, or social comment. The movie's rich for those who seek.
