“The Illusionist” – Not the One with Ed Norton
By: Dan Jones
When the Borders store franchise closed, DVDs were 1,000% off (give or take). This made the Blu-rays run anywhere from 10 to 30 bucks. No, not a very good deal. Especially not a going-out-of-business “steal.” Just a rip-off. Which is probably why people were stealing from Borders, giving a whole new meaning to a going-out-of-business steal.
Twelve dollars for a newly-released Blu-ray, however, wasn’t worth passing up.
I’m happy to say, my final purchase at Borders was a good one. And it wasn’t a lucky pick. I, of course, watch every movie before the selection becomes part of my film library. (Look at the big spender.)
This particular film entitled “The Illusionist” does not star Ed Norton, or Jessica Biel, or Paul Giamatti. It was released four years later and was an Academy Award nominee for best ANIMATED feature. The moving illustrations come from France but acquire no subtitles, because there is no dialogue.
Correction. There are a few lines, but no one appears to speak the other’s language. And yet, we understand. How?
It’s magic! The unexplained, the enchanting. To believe! This is the universal language, and it hasn’t faded over time. Money and society and cities are relevant in “The Illusionist,” as they are in life; but they are not what bring the world together. If left to choose our destinies, we would firstly love to be whisked away. To Scotland … To Paris … To a leaky, empty theater to see a magic show if necessary.
We love a show. We love the suspension of disbelief (or belief, depending on your argument over semantics). We love to watch people grow, change, and evolve.
“The Illusionist” is not a silent film but a quiet depiction of a showman’s later years. Rather than drag alongside an elderly man, the scenes progress and blend as smoothly as a sleight of hand. Other interesting characters come in and out of the story and won’t be easily forgotten. The sole scene left to parental discretion is the metaphor of a sad clown – both acerbic and magical, exposing the struggles of a dying form of entertainment.
Today, Barnes & Noble’s prices are … creative; but like Borders (R.I.P.), they carry some of the more obscure titles (classic, foreign, criterion) when compared to the stuffed Best Buy or Walmart cardboard boxes – center aisle.
Look for the Barnes & Noble red 500% off (or so) sticker. You could wind up purchasing a movie or two for under $100. Or if you’re not sure if they’ll like “The Illusionist,” get a Merry gift card this Christmas!
See you next year.
“The Triplets of Belleville
“
Writer/director Sylvain Chomet’s first animated feature is weirder, funnier, and more risqué than “The Illusionist.” Long, scrawny characters haunt the Tour de France and alleyways as a bug-eyed ball of a woman searches for her biking grandson. Again, Chomet’s strong themes and imagination create a longing for wayward loons; and this time music is the universal language pedaling his first movie home.
“The Illusionist” (2006)
This one does star Ed Norton, and Jessica Biel, and Paul Giamatti, and a stern performance by Rufus Sewell. And it’s about a magician. One of the better films of 2006. The ending is a touch theatrical, but is compensated by the glowing candle-like photography of early-1900 theaters. A few years later, director Neil Burger will properly put forth all of his visual efforts in a well-balanced rush with “Limitless” which has a smash-hit ending and a DVD alternate ending. (Hmm.)
“THE ILLUSIONIST” (2010)
“THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE”
