Love and illusions don’t mix in two films about magic
In recent months, two movies about illusions and magic were
released on DVD. With different casts and slightly different
premises, the movies both deal with lost love and seeking
revenge.
Love and illusions don’t mix in two films about magic
In recent months, two movies about illusions and magic were released on DVD. With different casts and slightly different premises, the movies both deal with lost love and seeking revenge.
The first, “The Illusionist,” was released by Yari Film Group and stars Edward Norton, Jessica Biel and Rufus Sewell. The other, “The Prestige,” was released by Buena Vista Pictures and stars Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Scarlett Johansson.
The films pay homage not only to the sleight of hand employed by magicians everywhere, but also to the illusions that filmmakers can create with the camera. The color in “The Illusionist” is slightly muted, as though we are seeing through the smoke and mirrors used by the magician. In “The Prestige,” black and grays lend a texture to the movie that lets the viewer know it is not a happy story.
Each film attempts to awe viewers at the end with a supposedly-surprising twist. But of course, all magicians are not equal in their craft, and the same stands true for films.
In “The Illusionist,” Norton plays a master of tricks named Eisenheim. When performing in Vienna, he reacquaints himself with an old love, much to the chagrin of her fiance, played by Rufus Sewell. Biel plays the love interest, Sophie, and she soon finds herself in a love triangle of sorts.
When Sophie turns up dead, Eisenheim is the main suspect, but as in magic tricks, all is not what it seems. Not to give away the ending, but any viewer who pays attention to detail can quickly unravel the surprise ending halfway through the film. When a cinematographer, and by extension a director, pays especially long attention to a person or item on the screen, it’s likely to be important to the plot. For those who haven’t seen the film, keep an eye on Sewell’s sword.
Despite the less-than-surprising end, “The Illusionist” was worth a watch. The cinematography, with all that attention to detail, garnered an academy award nomination. But the acting, with the exception of Norton, paled by comparison to that in “The Prestige.”
The Prestige starts out with Robert Angier, played by Jackman, explaining the three parts of a magic trick – the pledge, the turn and the prestige. In the pledge, the magician shows something ordinary to the audience and in the turn he makes it do something extraordinary. But according to Angier, making something disappear isn’t good enough – you have to bring it back.
“That’s why every magic act has a third act. The hardest part. The part we call ‘The Prestige,'” Angier says.
Jackman and Bale as Alfred Borden give tour-de-force performances as two former colleagues who spend their lives engaged in the pursuit of revenge. Early on, Angier loses a loved one and he blames Borden for it. The two go their separate ways, but Angier cannot let it go. He blows one of Borden’s magic tricks and nearly makes him lose his livelihood in the process.
From that point on the viewer is left waiting for the prestige – who will end up with the upper hand – or will they both end up losers?
The film goes on a bit long, as the two go back and forth in their attempts to one up the other, but it works in favor of the subject. In the end, revenge and hatred are a bit tedious, aren’t they?
The twist at the end of “The Prestige” came as a surprise to me, but once again an attention to detail can root out some of what is coming. When Borden’s wife Sarah says some days she can tell that he loves her and some days it is a lie, it’s more than just the words of an unhappy wife. It’s a clue to the story that unravels at the end.
“The Prestige” and “The Illusionist” are available on DVD.
