Review of The Illusionist (2006) by Izi M — 20 Apr 2011

I was really excited about this film, and although it wasn't entirely disappointing, it was very frustrating. The film is slow, and the magicians tricks are impossible to do, I did not like this about the film, every trick made me angry rather than enchanted me.

I was expecting a final twist explaining how each trick worked, but there was none. Apart from some diagrams of the orange tree, which made no sense at all, also the way he brought people back in a holographic way and they talked and the way he vanished, it just didnt do anything for me.

however, the final twist was a delight, by focusing on the magic tricks part of the film, I was oblivious to the final twist, which was clever and unpredictable, its just without this ending the illusionist would have been very poor, although yes everything that happens is relevant to the final twist, the story doesn't really pick up till that twist, which makes for some some boring running time.

overall, the film just feels like a one trick pony, but no matter how frustrating the illusionist is and how it is lacking in most in entertainment value, the film is smart and multi-layered and I predict watching it again knowing the twist, would be more fun than the first time.