The Illusionist (2006)

A mysterious master illusionist; a pragmatic, dogged police inspector; a volatile, autocratic prince; and a beautiful, self-assured duchess. These are the characters whose lives and actions are closely entwined in this tale of mystery, murder, and enduring love.

Illusion and "things are not as they seem" are necessarily themes of this movie, but there is no mystery for the viewer about the love between Eisenheim the Illusionist and Duchess Sophie. It is this love-since-childhood that provokes the hatred of the egotistical and power-hungry Crown Prince, and raises the suspicions of the loyalist Chief Inspector Uhl. Eisenheim's popularity and success already have caught the wary eye of the Imperial police, and when the police further suspect a love affair between the magician and Sophie, Prince Leopold's fiancee, a concerted effort begins to discredit Eisenheim.

Eisenheim and Leopold are worthy foils. Eisenheim was a working-class boy who rose to fame and prominence. Leopold is the prince of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Eisenheim is mysterious and aloof from the public by virtue of his profession, just as Leopold is removed from his subjects by status. Both men are intelligent and deliberate in their actions, but both have areas of passion, almost obsession: Eisenheim harbors a passionate love for Sophie, while the prince is driven by egotism and lust for power, and will lash out in violence when crossed.

Thrown into the mix is Chief Inspector Uhl, the plain-speaking voice of reason and cynicism. His loyalty to the prince is challenged throughout the film, but he does not automatically take sides with the magician. He presents an obstacle to Eisenheim and Sophie; but his sense of justice is as persistent as his investigation of the mysterious illusionist. As viewers, our sympathies and admiration lie with Eisenheim, but our empathy lies with Uhl, caught in rather a difficult position between pragmatism and doing the right thing. Uhl represents us: astonished and respectful of Eisenheim's mastery, but never fully understanding his character and motivations, and never sure if Eisenheim's magic is simply an illusion, or an actual power that challenges our cynicism.

I enjoyed the film for its mysterious and romantic plot, its contrasting characters, its cinematography and effects, and the fabulous set design. I was never completely caught up in the story, though; the characters were perhaps too remote and not developed enough. And the "twist" at the end wasn't a complete surprise to me, probably because I have seen similar plot devices in other shows. But overall, I found it a fun film experience, with a good balance of "candy" and substance. (The magician's illusions were fantastic as well -- and the tricks are never completely revealed!)