This movie is "Romeo and Juliet" meets magic. I liked it enough to say that when it eventually hits cable I will watch it again. It is a chick flick, but it is done intelligently and if you are a girl dating the right guy, it would make a decent date movie. Different versions of this type of story have been seen before. Peasant boy meets Duchess, peasant boy dazzles Duchess with his magic, peasant boy is cruelly separated from Duchess, peasant boy grows up and uses magic to unite with lost Duchess. It isn't a brilliant movie, but overall it has a nice vibe.
The cinematography is a standout. Edward Norton's pulls off a romantic look, which was a nice surprise (I tend not to think of him in romance roles, but hey, if Nicolas Cage does it, why not Norton?). His love interest is played by Jessica Biel, who is thirteen years his junior in real life, but speciously the same age in the film. To both of their credits, by the end, their romance works and the audience ignores the discrepancy.
The story takes place in the late nineteenth century Vienna and Crown Prince Leopold, Rufus Sewell, is set on doing wrong (he's a bad son and mean to women). The illusionist, Norton, comes to town and quickly develops a reputation for putting on a good show. Biel, is not engaged, but there is an understanding she is the Prince's choice for a wife. Paul Giamatti plays Chief Inspector Uhl, a man who takes his orders from the prince.
Although I liked this film, I wouldn't necessarily recommend seeing in a theater, for reasons that have nothing to do with the actually movie. My BIG COMPLAINT is that there were fifteen to twenty minutes of commercials (not previews) that irritated me to no end, especially if you go to the show earlier for proper seating. The last few years has shown an alarming increase in this practice. Truthfully, I watch more commercials at the movies than I do at home. It's insulting to pay for a seat (which aren't as cheap as they used to be) to then be barraged with Coke, sneaker, and previews of network shows for the Fall season as if the ticket buyer was an unfortunate deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming semi. To add salt to the open wound, there is a summary of sorts over the commercials that have been shown as if the whole experience was a treat the audience should appreciate.
What is ironic, is that Hollywood studios don't understand why movie attendance has been going steadily down. They want to make sure their stories don't insult anyone in Des Moines, yet they seem blind over the fact that this practice is begging movie fans to wait the two months until the DVD is released. At least this way, the viewer can pay less and avoid the commercials. That is what we, the corn fed masses, call a win-win.
The whole thing is unfortunate for smaller films, because people will endure commercials for a movie heavy in special effects, but will they do the same for simple stories? I think audience attendance is showing not. Of course, not every film released is going to have potential blockbuster status, thus I wonder why studios and film chains are willing to alienate viewers in such a manner.
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Comments: 24
I don't mind paying to go to the movies, but what I can't understand is why all movies have the same price. I'd like to see differential pricing. If a movie doesn't open well, or if it didn't cost a zillion dollars to make, why not charge $5. The studios of course would hate this, and I wouldn't be surprised if they contractually lock in the ticket price structure with the distributors or cinemas. The studios wouldn't want to "brand" their movies as $5 movies, even though that may be the only way to get people to take a chance on them. Differential pricing would also put a damper on mega-million budgets, and force directors and actors and producers to actually care about what they produce in terms of quality.
Faith, I know what you are talking about. Overall, I think there is a shared community spirit when watching a good movie in the company of people you don't know, but I'm going to less movies because of the price and commericals. I love my cable. My cousin has netflix and seems to like it.
I agree that screening too many commercials during the intervals of a movie with a simple story would not be encouraging to the theatre-going public.
I maybe go to one movie a year in the theater if that many. I recently saw Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. This is only because I got free tickets. Of course Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom in one movie is enough to get me into a theater but still, I probably wouldn't have seen it until it came out on DVD.
We always rent our movies and watch them at home. For $3.99 both my husband and I and occasionally a grandchild or our children and the grandchildren, can watch the movie with those microwave popcorn and coke that doesn't cost $3.00.
Loved your review. Sounds like a good romantic yarn and i like that you're prepared to watch it again sometime, that tells me it's not a bad film. But i'm like that with romances, can't tell you how many times i've been sucked into watching Notting Hill without meaning to...
(ps Nicolas Cage does romance roles because he's spunk-on-a-stick! yuuummm!)
Your review confirms that I want to see "The Illusionist" but I'll wait until it's in the dollar theatre. Generally I prefer the big screen over my old television.
I always take a big handbag into which I can stuff a beverage and munchies. The price for the theatre's refreshments are absurd.
My pet peeve: people who fish around loudly in their popcorn containers, crinkle candy wrappers, slurp drinks, etc.
Our library system has a great deal.....a huge selection of movies on DVD for $1 each and you get to keep them a week! I go to the library at least once a week to pick up books and will usually scan the DVD offerings....can always find a few to watch during the week.
Dophi, it is a good film to watch at home.
Marsha, it sounds like you know how to throw a movie party! You mentioned free tickets, ironically when I have gone to special screenings those are the times that no commercials are shown.
Amanda, I lover "Dangerous Liaisons" too! Have you ever seen "Dangerous Beauty"? It is a good one too. I have to admit that I do not like to watch art films because the theatres where they are usually shown suck. Bad seats plus bad popcorn make me an unhappy audience member.
Angela, yup the screaming babies are never pleasant, but in the middle of a film that isn't not child oriented is inexcusable…especially when the parents try to pacify the child so they can continue to watch.
Carolyn, "Nicolas Cage is punk on a stick!" has to be one of my favorite quotes of all time. Theaters here used to show slides, but within this last year or two it has been commercials. I'm hoping that this practice will be seen as the evil it is.
Carol, I'm hoping "Black Dahlia" will be a good film. It seems to have a lot of promise. Good luck DVD hunting!
Nancy, good point. The thing I will say in favor of seeing a show, is the focus one has in watching something in the dark. Often I get distracted when watching at home. There is nothing more fun than watching a good comedy where the whole audience is laughing at something you miss the next line.
Cheryl, the commercial DO seem louder. I haven't though about that! I too snuggle food and drink when I plan ahead.
Empress Audrey, I frequently have that feeling of wondering just what movie I'm going to see because there are so many previews. Often I find myself thinking the movie is actually another preview.
Kelly, often I am fashionably late because generally I'm a tardy person.
Sonia, that's the way I feel too except when a friend and I are shopping and the time is right or I'm on a date.
Vicky, I really don't care if they are paid high salaries because in the end their salaries one of the few things that are set by the market. As public figures they have to contend with stalkers and other crazies, which can't be all that pleasant, plus they have a self life, so their charmed life does have limitations. What I don't like is when I hear yet another one of them moan about public life. It isn't as if acting has been forces upon them and if they didn't want fame than they should have stayed with Broadway productions.
Laurie, I love previews but the commercials make me want to scream! I go much less to films than I used to.