The Illusionist

The thing about The Illusionist is that it's a pretty movie. I say this with all possible respect and dignity. It's a beautiful movie, with soft edges and autumn colors and a couple of very delicately rendered butterflies. The plot in itself is poetic, with childhood lovers and the kind of desperate rich girl/poor boy romance that I usually find too sappy to watch but which works here very well. Even the music is soft and gentle with a darker undercurrent during the tense bits.

This isn't a movie to watch when you want to think or analyze. Illusionist can probably be summarized in a paragraph, as much of the movie is tension and prettiness and the main plot twists are easily predictable if you think about them enough. I recommend this movie as one of those to just sink into. Relax. Let go. Enjoy the music and the excellent acting - oh, that acting!

Norton is superb, as usual, and he's supported by brilliant performances from Giamatti and Sewell, the latter of whom plays the part of the despicable prince to perfection, not too over-the-top to be completely unbelievable, and draws a touch of sympathy towards the end. Even Jessica Biel proves in this movie that yes, she is an actress and can do more than scream in a horror flick. It's actually difficult to recognize her under all those petticoats, which is part of what makes this movie great. Besides Norton - and even Norton's not really such a huge star, plus he's difficult to recognize with the beard - the cast looks surprisingly fresh and free of the usual paparazzi-ed L.A. crowd.

So, as I was saying, Illusionist is one of those movies that you really just want to sit back and enjoy. If you're tired, and you just want to watch something pretty and soothing that you don't have to think too much about, you can really let go and let the movie surprise you.