THE ILLUSIONIST
Year: 2006
USA: Freestyle Releasing / Yari Film Group Releasing
UK: Momentum Pictures
Cast: Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan, Tom Fisher, Aaron Johnson, Eleanor Tomlinson, Karl Johnson, Vincent Franklin, Nicholas Blane, Philip McGough, Erich Redman, Michael Carter, Matthew Blood-Smyth, David Forest, Laurie Athey, Andreas Grothusen, Brian Caspe, Ellen Savaria, Elias Bauer, Vitezslav Bouchner, David O'Kelly, Richard Rowlands, Rueben-Henry Biggs, Robert Russell, Noel le Bon, David Fellowes, Eve Kelemenova, John Early, Jan Nemejovsky, Ivo Novak, Vladimir Kulhavy
Director: Neil Burger
Country: USA
USA: 110 mins
UK: 109 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for some sexuality and violence
UK Certificate: PG contains infrequent moderate violence, mild sex and language
USA Release Date: 1 September 2006
USA Release Date: 18 August 2006 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 2 March 2007 (Limited Release)
UK DVD Release Date: 9 July 2007
Synopsis
Set in Vienna in the early 1900's, Eisenheim (Edward Norton) is a magician, who falls in love with Sophia (Jessica Biel), a woman well above his social standing. When Sophia becomes engaged to Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), Eisenheim uses his powers to win her back and undermine the stability of the royal house of Vienna.
THE ILLUSIONIST is director Neil Burger's screen adaptation of Steven Millhauser's short story 'Eisenheim the Illusionist'.
Norton plays mysterious stage magician Eisenheim, who bends nature's laws to his will in front of awestruck crowds. Giamatti co-stars as Vienna's shrewd Chief Inspector Uhl, a man committed to uphold the law and for whom magic holds no place in his ordered world.
When word spreads of Eisenheim's powers, one of Europe's most powerful and pragmatic men Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell - Dark City) attends a performance certain that Eisenheim is a fraud and convinced that he can debunk him during the show.
However, the Prince makes the mistake of attending the show with his beautiful fiance Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel), who is called to assist the magician onstage. Eisenheim and Sophie recognize each other from their childhood and a love affair is awakened, leaving the Prince with a greater motive to prove Eisenheim is a fraud.
Vehement in his desire to reclaim Sophie, the Prince enlists the help of Chief Inspector Uhl, and a scintillating battle of wills ensues. With Uhl doggedly searching for the man behind the trickery, Eisenheim prepares to execute his greatest illusion yet, and danger is never far off in the mysterious city of Vienna.
THE ILLUSIONIST is director Neil Burger's screen adaptation of Steven Millhauser's short story 'Eisenheim the Illusionist'.
DVD EXTRAS
Director's Commentary
Making of The Illusionist
Easter Egg