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In Reply to: "The Ilusionist" posted by rico on September 4, 2006 at 13:46:57:
The "Illusionist" falls short of greatness.There is no real chemistry between Norton and Biel, and the gooey love scene montage is right out of Lifetime network.
The "trick ending" could be seen coming a mile away. The director might think he's being clever, but this type of present-day cinematic "surprise," made popular I suppose by "The Sixth Sense," has to involve more than last-second script manipulation.
Paul Giamatti kept my attention throughout the film and he's moving into the same class of actors that includes Robert Duval -- someone who fully inhabits his character while maintaining a mesmerizing screen persona. You can't take your eyes off him and he rises above the proceedings.
Follow Ups:
...justify your "cleverer than thou" ending is really tiring at this point (Usual Suspects is probably the only film, in recent memory, that got it right). Besides, as a friend said to me while watching yet another film that employed this, "If you've got to go over the story again, you probably didn't do that great of a job telling it in the first place."
As I pointed out below, this film isn't perfect, but no offense, you are completely in error in regard to the romantic chemistry between Norton and Biel.> > > 'The "trick ending" could be seen coming a mile away. The director might think he's being clever, but this type of present-day cinematic "surprise," made popular I suppose by "The Sixth Sense," has to involve more than last-second script manipulation.' < < <
As I stated below this film's flaws, albeit minor, have nothing to do with "last-second script manipulation." All that would've been required was a little tightening and one or two revisions of an otherwise solid script so that certain scenes work a little better. Personally, I think that this film would've benefitted from less emphasis on slick studio effects to achieve conjured spirits (eerie hazy smoke and mirrors images would've been better to create an other worldly atmosphere in a 19th century stage magic setting).
AuPh
Hey, no offense taken. Films are wonderful, they can take you to fantastic places and are a hoot to debate. What it comes down to for me is: either a film communicates to you or it doesn't; either you are on the same wavelength as the director/actors or you're not.I liked much of the "Illusionist" and, in many ways, it's a film about what film is all about: creating an illusion and drawing you in. And to that extent, it succeeds.
But I still feel the "trick" ending was too much a matter of manipulation and lacked dramatic substance. I would have enjoyed a more subtle climax with perhaps not everyone living happily ever after. And Norton's a fine actor but didn't convey the charisma and intensity I thought necessary for the romantic lead.
I actually enjoyed the special effects. My favorite scenes involved Giamatti's facial expressions as he observes some of the "ghosts," especially when the creepy little boy stares him down.
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