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01-28-2007, 09:47 PM
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#61 of 84 
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Re: The Illusionist
The lack of explanation for or believability of the illusions is not a knock against the film, in my opinion. As I expressed above, the film is really about romance, not magic, so that cinematic sleight of hand can be forgiven.
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01-28-2007, 10:04 PM
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#62 of 84
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John Co
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Re: The Illusionist
I just think the whole premise would have been much more believable and interesting if he were supposed to be an illusionist/magician but in fact had some supernatural powers which enabled him to perform these feats.
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01-28-2007, 11:03 PM
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#63 of 84
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Tim Glover
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Re: The Illusionist
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Originally Posted by Chris Atkins
The lack of explanation for or believability of the illusions is not a knock against the film, in my opinion. As I expressed above, the film is really about romance, not magic, so that cinematic sleight of hand can be forgiven.
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Well said Chris. I agree. 
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01-28-2007, 11:54 PM
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#64 of 84
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Re: The Illusionist
If the movie were about romance, then the Norton tricks distract from the theme of the movie. As they are now, I think they set up audience expectations, and then fail to meet them.
I thought the movie was not strong in the romance department. To me, it was Giamatti's position, as the right hand man to power and bureacrat, as an admirer and persecutor of Norton, that was really driving the picture. The romance plot was perfunctory.
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01-29-2007, 08:09 PM
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#65 of 84
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Re: The Illusionist
Kirk:
Giamatti was certainly a strong character, but he was an antagonist to the romance. The entire deception of the latter half of the film--indeed, the entire new act that he created with the help of the Chinese stage hands--was all designed to secure a new life between the illusionist and his lady. Contrast that to the prestige, where the characters are driven by the desire to be the best magician.
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01-29-2007, 08:22 PM
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#66 of 84
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Re: The Illusionist
The fact that some of the magic tricks could not be real didn't really bother me.
I just think it is cool that we got two good movies about magicians in one year, and they are totally different from each other.
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01-29-2007, 08:24 PM
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#67 of 84
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Re: The Illusionist
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Originally Posted by Marc Colella
It got nominated for Cinematography, even bad films can get that nomination.
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The Black Dahlia is also nominated for Cinematography, and that film was horrible (great cinematography though). |
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01-29-2007, 09:15 PM
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#68 of 84
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Re: The Illusionist
Chris, I don't disagree with your plot description, but the romance at to me was not a well developed theme or relationship. The two, plot and theme, are not the same thing. A lot of movies can have a "love conquers all" type of message at the end of the movie, but that doesn't make the ride about the love.
In The Prestige, I too agree that romance is not the focus of the movie, but the Rebecca Hall character had a stronger, real presence in the movie. I felt the Biel character is drawn to be a standard lost love, without any distinguishing personal, memorable strokes. That's probably a large reason why I don't view the romance angle very moving or interesting in The Illusionist. Of course, some have praised Biel in the role (my view: adequate and unmemorable), so opinions obviosly vary.
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02-06-2007, 10:09 AM
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#69 of 84
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Re: The Illusionist
Great film. I can't believe it is getting nickpicked to death here because of the films "illusions".
BTW, this might sound totally off-topic but I just have to say that Jessica Biel has such a nice ass! You could really tell at the end when she was wearing those tight pants and her back is to the screen. She was brushing the horse. I know, I'm a perv, lol.
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02-06-2007, 10:35 AM
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#70 of 84
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Re: The Illusionist
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Originally Posted by Andres Munoz
Great film. I can't believe it is getting nickpicked | | |
