{"id":21450,"date":"2019-06-17T07:24:54","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T14:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/?p=21450"},"modified":"2019-06-17T07:25:32","modified_gmt":"2019-06-17T14:25:32","slug":"review-illusionist-bd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/2019\/06\/review-illusionist-bd\/","title":{"rendered":"The Illusionist Blu-ray Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>For me, The Illusionist<\/em><\/strong> is a better film than The Prestige<\/em> if only very slightly, but because both films came out the same year, it has been in many ways overshadowed.<\/p>\n

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The Illusionist<\/span>
\n(2006)<\/span>
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Genre(s): <\/strong>Drama, Romance, Suspense<\/span>
\nMVD Visual | PG13 \u2013 109 min. \u2013 $24.95 | June 25, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Date Published:<\/strong> 06\/17\/2019 | Author:<\/strong> The Movieman<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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MOVIE INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Directed by: <\/strong>Neil Burger<\/span>
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Steven Mullhauser (short story \u201cEisenheim the Illusionist\u201d); Neil Burger (screenplay)<\/span>
\nCast: <\/strong>Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISC INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Features: <\/strong>Commentary, Featurettes, Theatrical Trailer<\/span>
\nSlip Cover: <\/strong>No<\/span>
\nDigital Copy: <\/strong>No<\/span>
\nFormats Included: <\/strong>Blu-ray<\/span>
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio: <\/strong>English (DTS-HD MA 5.1), English (PCM 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)<\/span>
\nVideo: <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen 1.78<\/span>
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English SDH<\/span>
\nDisc Size: <\/strong>35.47 GB<\/span>
\nTotal Bitrate: <\/strong>40.05 Mbps<\/span>
\nCodecs: <\/strong>MPEG-4 AVC<\/span>
\nRegion(s): <\/strong>A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

MVD Visual provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
\nThe opinions I share are my own.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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THE MOVIE \u2014 4.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Note: <\/strong>This portion was copied over from my 2010 Fox Blu-ray review, hence the dated references, however my thoughts on the film remains the same.<\/p>\n

Plot Synopsis:<\/strong> The acclaimed illusionist Eisenheim (EDWARD NORTON) has not only captured the imaginations of all of Vienna, but also the interest of the ambitious Crown Prince Leopold (RUFUS SEWELL). But when Leopold\u2019s new fianc\u00e9e (JESSICA BIEL) rekindles a childhood fascination\u00a0 with Eisenheim, the Prince\u2019s interest evolves into obsession\u2026 and suddenly the city\u2019s Chief Inspector (PAUL GIAMATTI) finds himself investigating a shocking crime. But even as the Inspector engages him in a dramatic challenge of wills, Eisenheim prepares for his most impressive illusion yet.<\/p>\n

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\u201cPerhaps there\u2019s truth in this illusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

I won\u2019t go into detail about the plot outside of the above synopsis, but I will say although it doesn\u2019t rise to the twist of The Sixth Sense<\/em> or The Prestige<\/em>, but The Illusionist<\/em><\/strong> is one of the best movies of 2006.<\/p>\n

Writer\/director Neil Berger sets up great atmosphere from the beginning showing Eisenheim in a packed theater, sitting on a chair, channeling something. Berger utilizes a golden glow in each scene mixed with rich and beautiful sets and great performances from Norton, Giamatti and Sewell (not to say Biel wasn\u2019t good, but her role was smaller). Early on, Berger uses a hand-cranked (like) style for Eisenheim\u2019s childhood days, giving it an interesting flair that fits right in with the rest of the movie. Some might find it overly stylized but I feel it fits in with the story and gives it an extra depth that helps the audience along to the conclusion.<\/p>\n

As a sophomore effort, Berger is off to an impressive start to his career and it\u2019ll be interesting to see where he goes next. He may not have the finesse or refinement of young directors like Christopher Nolan, however I am intrigued to see what he\u2019ll do next.<\/p>\n

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Edward Norton has often been called a chameleon and after 10 years, Norton has proven to be one of the best actors of this generation; the new Robert De Niro or Al Pacino if you will. Norton consistently gives amazing performances even in some of his less artsy films like The Score<\/em><\/strong> or The Italian Job<\/em><\/strong>. Here, he gives an unassuming performance, one that really isn\u2019t memorable per se, but still one that is better than anything 90% of the acting community could do. Eisenheim isn\u2019t all that well fleshed out as a character, but because of its Norton, he pulls in the audience just as a real audience for the time would watching the magic.<\/p>\n

In their supporting roles, Paul Giamatti (in a role different what he\u2019s done of late), Jessica Biel and Rufus Sewell (despite being typecast as a raving, violent villain), all feed on Norton\u2019s charisma and they equally pull their weight in roles that, again, aren\u2019t as three-dimensional as I like from stories. Nevertheless, given the story, the illusion or magic of this script, all is forgivable for the final payoff.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one flaw, it\u2019s a minor one with the score. Veteran composer Philip Glass\u2019s musical cues are fine and work with the story, but from opening credits to the end, I had the feeling I\u2019ve heard before. Nothing about it is original nor that great. That said, this is a minor gripe from someone who enjoys (and buys) scores.<\/p>\n

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The Illusionist<\/em><\/strong> isn\u2019t one of those great movies on par with The Godfather<\/em> or even Lost in Translation<\/em> (in my book), but it still has that finale that makes it all worthwhile. It doesn\u2019t stand alongside Sixth Sense<\/em><\/strong> (and probably won\u2019t carry that kind of cultural weight), yet I can\u2019t help to have fallen in love with this movie.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 2.25\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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The original Fox release did not port over the features from the DVD review, so it\u2019s nice to see this MVD Visual release, through their Marquee Collection line, are now on the Blu-ray disc. Included is an Audio Commentary<\/u><\/strong> with Screenwriter\/Director Neil Jordan, The Making of The Illusionist<\/em> (3:59; SD)<\/u><\/strong> and Jessica Biel on The Illusionist <\/em>(1:29; SD)<\/u><\/strong> featurettes and the Original Theatrical Trailer (2:30; SD)<\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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VIDEO \u2013 4.0\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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MVD Visual releases The Illusionist<\/em><\/strong> onto Blu-ray shown with a 1.78 widescreen aspect ratio and since there\u2019s nothing on the back cover saying so, I\u2019m guessing this is the same transfer from the original Blu-ray. But even so, this still does look good with sharp detail and stark black levels. This was never a bright looking movie with somewhat of a copper glaze over the picture throughout where even daylight scenes look dark. In any case, it looks clean with no noticeable artifacting, aliasing or other flaws.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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AUDIO \u2013 3.75\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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The included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is standard and my thoughts pretty much match up with my original 2010 review: The track does its job well enough to my ears. The movie doesn\u2019t have a whole lot of action and is propelled more by Philip Glass\u2019 score than anything else. Dialogue levels, though, sound fairly clear while ambient noises make use of the back channels.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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OVERALL \u2013 4.25\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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For me, The Illusionist<\/em><\/strong> is a better film than The Prestige<\/em> if only very slightly, but because both films came out the same year, it has been in many ways overshadowed. The Blu-ray features solid audio and video and thankfully the bonus material this go around were placed on the disc.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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