The Illusionist

I was very much up for seeing this film, it's one Adam had told me about way back in October, and had been released the other side of the Atlantic way before it was over here. Having loved the prestige, TA and I wanted to see if this would compare favourably!

The film begins with chief inspector Uhl (Giamatti) recounting the history of Eisenheim for Crown Prince Leopold, following Eisenheim's supposed spirit raising magic trick. Eisenheim (Aaron Johnson) was the son of a cabinetmaker, and one day he met a magician who performs several tricks for him and then, according to differing accounts, the magician and the tree he was sitting under disappear. Following this encounter, Eisenheim obsessed about magic tricks, but also falls for Sophie von Teschen (Biel), a duchess for whose family his father is a cabinetmaker. The two are forbidden from seeing each other but meet in secret in the woods, where Eisenheim tells of his plans to go to China to learn more magic and Sophie promises to go with him.

Eisenheim meets Sophie once again many years later at a performance when she is volunteered by the crown prince, as a participant in his trick. Eisenheim and Sophie plan to elope but first something must be done to stop Leopold, who is planning a coup d'etat to take control of Austria from his aging father, Emperor Franz Joseph, while using his engagement to win the support of Hungary. Uhl follows the couple and informs Leopold who kills Sophie in a drunken rage.

Leopold attends a show in disguise and Eisenheim summons the spirit of Sophie, who claims that someone present in the theater murdered her. Leopold orders Eisenheim's arrest, but when Uhl comes to arrest him during a show, Eisenheim's body fades and disappears, like a spirit.

Back to the first scene and Uhl has evidence of and informed the emperor's general staff of the murder and Leopold's plans to usurp the Austrian throne. When his father’s general staff arrive at the palace, Leopold shoots himself in despair. Upon leaving the palace, Uhl is given a folio by a child, explaining how Eisenheim created one of his tricks. Uhl is then able to put the facts together logically to reveal through a series of flashbacks, that in fact the entire series of events had been an elaborate illusion by Eisenheim to bring down Leopold and make off with Sophie as his love.

This was a well executed film and although in hindsight the ending should have been obvious, it eluded me throughout. 4 stars!