Nineteenth Century Austria: poor boy and aspiring magician becomes a close friend of rich and socially superior girl; her family will have none of it and their friendship is threatened apart. Flash forward fifteen years to turn-of-the-Century Vienna: the boy is now a master illusionist wowing society audiences and is played by Edward Norton who has never given anything but masterful performances in films (and who is therefore not quite conventional leading man material) and the girl is now a mature beauty played by Jessica Biel (who has never before quite registered on my personal radar, but who does a fine and believable job here). She is about to be engaged to the ambitious Crown Prince (Rufus Sewell). Finally add to the entourage the always-watchable Paul Giamatti who aspires to be the Police Commissioner and who -- to that end-- serves as one of the Prince's lackeys. When boy-again-meets-girl is it possible to achieve the requisite happy ending given their past and present entanglements.
The answer to this question is what drives this remarkable movie which previewed here last night and a handsome production it is too with sumptuous photography, super scenery (probably Czech), lifting music, and the four wonderful performances. Norton and Biel resume their relationship but the wrath of the Prince remains a stumbling block and ends in Biel's death. However, remember, this film is about Norton's great skill as an illusionist and the action keeps the audience guessing until the end. Recommended.
1 comment:
Saw it, loved it, double recommend it. It got me in the end I'll have to find the book :) Rache
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