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The Illusionist Details

2006 DVD Certificate PG.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 66,852 members

Director Neil Burger's screen adaptation of Steven Millhauser's short story 'Eisenheim the Illusionist'. Eisenheim (Edward Norton) is a magician in early 1900's Vienna, who falls in love with a woman well above his social standing. When she becomes engaged to a Crown Prince, Eisenheim uses his powers to win her back and .. Read more

Starring Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell
Director Neil Burger
Genres Drama, Romance, Thriller

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The Illusionist

Director Neil Burger's screen adaptation of Steven Millhauser's short story 'Eisenheim the Illusionist'. Eisenheim (Edward Norton) is a magician in early 1900's Vienna, who falls in love with a woman well above his social standing. When she becomes engaged to a Crown Prince, Eisenheim uses his powers to win her back and undermine the stability of the royal house of Vienna.

Starring Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan, Jake Wood, Tom Fisher, Aaron Johnson, Eleanor Tomlinson
Director Neil Burger
Studio MOMENTUM PICTURES
Run time DVD: 1 hr 50 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate PG.gif
Genres Drama, Romance, Thriller
Language English
Hearing-impaired English
Released DVD: 25 Jun 2007
Production year: 2006
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (2) of The Illusionist

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  • Fans of The Prestige will want to compare and contrast The Illusionist, another mystery thriller set in the world of magic at the tail end of the nineteenth century. Edward Norton stars... read more »

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    • Tom Charity, 
    • LOVEFiLM
  • Most helpful member's review of The Illusionist

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  • 83 out of 88 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    I'm under no illusion...this is great !

    This is a beautifully filmed really good film, that is made great by its actors. Edward Norton is just superb as Eisenheim the illusionist, but Paul Giamatti as the inspector, Jessica Biel as Sophie and Rufus Sewell as Crown Prince leopold are similarly excellent. The whole thing just comes together really well and makes for a really interesting film.

    Although it is just a story, it does have a whiff of reality in the portrayal of Crown Prince of Austria, who was a real odd bod, who, to all intents and purposes ended the Habsburg monarchy on his controvertial death with his mistress in 1889. It is still not known if it was really suicide or if they were murdered.

    This film is well worth a watch.

  • Most recent members' review of The Illusionist

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  • 12 out of 14 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Absolute Magic

    Superb, magic, I could go on. All the stars shine, especially Edward Norton.

    The story twists and turns and the ending......brilliant!!!!!

    If you haven't seen the film yet, don't mess around - get it as soon as you can!!!!!!!

    • Maynard
      • Maynard from Gillingham,
  • News and features

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    The Prestige

    The Illusionist

    • 26 Feb 2007

    Fans of The Prestige will want to compare and contrast The Illusionist, another mystery thriller set in the world of magic at the tail end of the nineteenth century. Edward Norton stars as the great Eisenheim, an illusionist whose acclaim reaches the court of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) is sufficiently amused to invite him to perform at the castle, but becomes resentful when the entertainer catches the eye of the Prince's betrothed, Duchess Sophie van... Read more

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Rating breakdown

66,852 Member ratings
  • 100
7,272
  • 90
4,416
  • 80
19,412
  • 70
14,100
  • 60
12,752
  • 50
3,908
  • 40
2,873
  • 30
792
  • 20
982
  • 10
345

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    • Director Neil Burger's screen adaptation of Steven Millhauser's short story 'Eisenheim the Illusionist'. Eisenheim (Edward Norton) is a magician in early 1900's Vienna, who falls in love with a woman ...