The Illusionist (Full Screen Edition) | 
| Director: Neil Burger
Actors: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $2.70
You Save: $12.28 (82%)
New (43) Used (51) Collectible (2) from $2.70
Rating:  478 reviews
Sales Rank: 12306
Format: Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dubbed, Full Screen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: D2240841D
UPC: 024543408413
EAN: 0024543408413
ASIN: B000K7VHPU
Theatrical Release Date: September 1, 2006
Release Date: January 9, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 01/13/2009 Run time: 110 minutes Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com
First screened in Europe and scheduled for limited release in the U.S., The Illusionist offers welcome proof that "arthouse" quality needn't be limited to the arthouses. Set in turn-of-the-century Vienna, this stately, elegant period film benefited from a crossover release in mainstream cinemas, and showed considerable box-office staying power--granted, teenage mallrats and lusty males may have been drawn to the allure of Seventh Heaven alumna Jessica Biel, who rises to the occasion with a fine performance. But there's equal appeal in the casting of Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, who bring their formidable talents to bear on the intriguing tale of a celebrated magician named Eisenheim (Norton) whose stage performance offends the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), a vindictive lout who aims to marry Duchess Sophie (Biel), Eisenheim's childhood friend and now, 15 years later, his would-be lover. This romantic rivalry and Eisenheim's increasingly enigmatic craft of illusion are investigated by Chief Inspector Uhl (Giamatti), who's under Leopold's command and is therefore not to be trusted as Eisenheim and Sophie draw closer to their inevitable reunion. Cleverly adapted by director Neil Burger from Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist," and boasting exquisite production values and a fine score by Philip Glass, The Illusionist is the kind of class act that fully deserved its unusually wide and appreciative audience. -- Jeff Shannon Beyond The Illusionist 
"Eisenheim the Illusionist" and Other Stories | 
Paul Giamatti in a More Loveable Role | 
Magic Kits & Accessories | Stills from The Illusionist
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| Customer Reviews: Read 473 more reviews...
 A Love Story wrapped inside themes of class differences, power, pride and the dangers of all three June 24, 2009
Michael Griswold (Rockford, USA)
The Illusionist tells a story of love triumphing over the themes of class differences, power, and how pride can doom a person. Eisenheim the Illusionist (Edward Norton) and Duchess Sophie Van Teschan (Jessica Biel) were childhood friends until her family sensed that her royal blood was getting too close to a common cabinet makers son forcibly separated the two, presumably never to meet again. Fifteen years later Duchess Sophie has become engaged to Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), who is more becoming of her royal bloodlines than Eisenheim would have been. Eisenheim is a successful illusionist bringing wonder and mystery to the masses. One night at a show, Leopold cowardly volunteers Sophie as a volunteer in one of Eisenheim's illusions. Eisenheim recognizes her quickly and their friendship is rekindled having never really drowned fifteen years before, much to the dismay and nervousness of Leopold.
As Sophie and Eisenheim grow closer together, Leopold becomes concerned because he needs Sophie's hand in marriage because her family is the ruling family of Hungary, whose backing he needs to overthrow his father and seize power for himself. Therefore, he sends Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) to investigate the activities of Eisenheim and Sophie. Having heard tales of the Crown Prince's murderous temper and desperate to be with his love, Eisenheim cooks up his greatest illusion yet. First Sophie tells Leopold that she's leaving him, thusly ending any chance Leopold has of carry out his powerless, ruthful, ambitions. Angered by the news, a drunken Leopold takes vengeance on Sophie fatally stabbing her and leaving Eisenheim to grieve over the duchess body, or so we think...
As Uhl conducts an investigation that seems to point everywhere but at the Prince because Uhl stands to be head of police in a Leopold Monarchy if he takes power, lucrative position for the son of a butcher, Prince Leopold begins to loose control having had his ambitions ruined by a common Illusionist and takes heavy to the drink and begins to drift slowly out of his mind, driven to madness by Eisenheim's last trick and carefully placed clues which has a presumed ghost of Sophie appear out of thin air and revel Prince Leopold as the man who killed her. With his career in ruins and his pride tragically fallen, Leopold takes his own life as Uhl begins to unravel the mysteries of his greatest illusion, finding the pride and gumption to stand up to a desperate Leopold in his last grasps of power. The end comes rather predictably with Eisenheim and Sophie meeting up in an Austrian countryside where they presumably start a new life together.
Great acting by Giamatti, Norton, and Jessica Biel surprised me in this one as well. Most Underrated movie of 2007.
 Desptie the obvious twist- an alluring movie! June 10, 2009
Zeek (Lancaster, PA USA)
A romantic tale, the story starts out with Paul Giamatti as the Chief Inspector, narrating Edward Abramovich aka Eisenheim the Illusionist's backstory which he is revealing to Crown Prince Leopold of Vienna- a background Eisenheim shares with the Prince's fiance.
As teenagers Eisenheim and Sophie von Teschen shared a star-crossed love for each other. A love eventually torn apart by her family, separating them for 15 yrs. When The Crown Prince visits one of Eisenheim's shows with Sophie, it doesn't take her long to secretly rekindle her love with the man she once knew as Edward.
Naturally The Prince has other ideas. For one- Eisenheim made a fool out of him in front of Sophie AND his guests and, for another- he needs Sophie, and her country Hungry, as a tool in over-throwing his father.
When Sophie makes a stop at The Prince's hunting lodge to tell him the marriage will not happen- (The antlers he uses in all his decorating should give you a clue to Leo's nature, btw-) someone leaves alive and the other ends up dead and draped over a horse that disappears into the night.
How Eisenheim untangles, or tangles, the murder mystery is part of the twist- which you can probably tell me right now, sight unseen, because it's so obvious.
Personally I love Giamatti. He does a fine job in the film, if a tad miscast. My problem is I couldn't "see" the Inspector past Giamatti the actor. Still, the Inspector character has a depth which might not have been realized in the hands of a lesser actor.
Norton and Biel as Eisenheim and Sophie do a fine job too- as well as Rufus Sewell as the arrogant Prince.
The cinematography is also excellent in TI. Much of the retelling is set with a semi closed lens, much like the cameras of the early 1900's, and filmed in slight sepia tones. AND the illusions Eisenheim performs are truly magical because of the fx.
A fairly good movie with one annoying flaw- you can see the twist coming a mile away. If not for that, I would have given this a much higher grade.
Review of movie THE ILLUSIONIST. June 4, 2009
Marshall Miller (Georgia, USA)
I recently viewed this movie. The story is fascinating and a welcomed addition to the world of drama. The players were well chosen for their parts and they played them well. The period costumes and filming locale were treats in themselves. A wonderful story beautifully told on the screen. For me this is a high class film and I regret we don't find more like it. --MM
Very hHappy with Purchase May 19, 2009
Mk Adams (USA)
Received item promptly and in great shape. Received helpful & courteous info from seller. The purchase and experience was excellent and will recommend for future products. Thank you.
A Suspenseful, Philosophical and Romantic Love Story! Simply Awesome! May 10, 2009
M. Torbert (TX USA)
This refreshing film is not only emotionally touching, but it's suspenseful, dramatic and possesses many layers of irony. It's like reading an interesting book, such as the The Hours.
The movie begins with the two main characters as young adolescents who fall in love despite their socio-economics background. However, because of society's class differences, the young lovers, got separated, and thus set up the stage for this truly delightful love story.
The young actress chosen to portray the alluring Jessica Biel (The heroine of the film) as the young spirited girl who falls madly in love with the young boy who's father is patronaged by her upper class parents, truly resembles her; it adds to the continuity of the film in my opinion. She is beautiful, elegant and acted her part well, which gets us to sympathize with her and wishing circumstances were different, that only what one feels matter.
As the film progresses, we are re-introduced to the main characters as adults; the film becomes intriguingly suspenseful, dramatic and genuinely interesting to watch. Events after events are presented to us, alluding to one conclusion but only for us to discover that it isn't so. This film is a story within a story. The actors who are chosen for the roles, specially the chief inspector, Paul Giamatti: Sideways (Widescreen Edition), Cinderella Man [Blu-ray],John Adams (HBO Miniseries), keep us mesmerized, engrossed in the story; the inspector is the middleman, the every day Joe, who's aspiring to be a part of society's upper class, but, thank goodness, possesses moral, a sense of duty and takes his position seriously despite his aspiration to become a part of noble's society.
The movie is philosophical or allegorical, a la Nietzche Beyond Good and Evil Karl Marx The Social and Political Thought of Karl Marx (Cambridge Studies in the History and Theory of Politics)and Hegel Philosophy of Right by G.W.F. Hegel. I like the morality aspect of the film and what it means to today's society. The movie is timeless due its content or events in the story. It can happen during ancient time or in our current era. And of course, Philip Glass' hauntingly romantic score The Illusionist gives the movie another dimesnsional layer of ecstasy, keeping us attuned, emotinally involved into the story, into the film.
This is an awesome love story that simply states: what we feel or experience is totally independent's of what society, our parents or people desire for us. We should do what we think is best for us and do what make us happy.
So, if you're a fan of suspense, romance, drama. allegory or a touching story that appeals not only to our hearts, but to our minds as well, then, this film is a must have for your collection. And because this film is suspenseful, one must watch it, and once you do, you will see why it's truly a superb, different type of love story with intriguing twists and plots.
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