Far Too Simple Slight of Hand
- Title: The Illusionist
- IMDb: link
How critically do you watch films? I ask this because a film like The Illusionist presupposes its audience to watch for entertainment and not pay too close attention to the man behind the curtain. I dislike movies that take the audience’s intelligence and attention for granted. This film assumes you are relatively dumb and unobservant. If you, like me, watch a film, especially a suspense film, with a careful eye then you will no doubt be disappointed. The Illusionist is all too willing, and eager, to give away its secrets.
The movie begins in a way that infuriates me. It begins at the end, with the illusionist Eisenheim (Edward Norton) being arrested for his performances by Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti). The film then takes place in a long flashback that explains the events leading up to this moment. Why give away this much information in the first three minutes of the film? Well since the film seems so eager to give away its secrets, I guess it doesn’t really matter.
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Thrillers work on keeping the audience on the edge of your seat. This film isn’t a thriller. Character studies work by examining individuals and relationships, bringing truths and secrets out, and making resolutions. This isn’t a character study. In fact, I’m not sure what it is. I know what it wants to be, but it just doesn’t know how to get there.
Before we start click and watch the trailer for this film. Go ahead, I’ll wait….hmm…hmm…hmm…