Here it is the days of September, typically the sentence when films that could’nt make the summer roll get dumped, and hitherto I’ve just seen 1 of the years best films. With the packet we also get a significant retort performance by Edward Norton, who stars as Eisenheim, the title character. Norton’s character begins as a peasant class boy in 19th century Austria wHO, in a fabled style, meets a magician by a tree who offers some conjuration tips earlier dissapearing (with the shoetree - it gets better). Young Eisenheim falls for a beautiful young girl of noblesse who wishes him to be able-bodied to cover them from her dissaproving family. He is unable to and hence bereft and alone he searches the far corners of the land to find all the great seer secrets.
Fifteen years transpire and he returns, delivery with him an elaborate stage show complete with hired workforce from the Orient. His show captures the fancy of a police inspector played with resolute glare by Apostle Paul Giamatti - who is really becoming our most solid fictitious character performer. The inspector is also the confidante of the Archduke’s son, played by Rufus Sewell with a bit of the villainous gusto he displayed in 2001’s A Knights Tale. The Duke Prince sees the Illusionists show and brings along his future bride (Jessica Biel), who simply so happens to be Eisenheim’s childhood love. She volunteers for an play of head game an afterwards the old flame is rekindled. This sets in motion a rivalry involving the Prince’s attempts to prove Eisenhauer a fake, as well as Norton and Beil plotting an escape from Austria and Giamatti stressful to beat the fleeing lovers piece trying to keep his job. It is fun watching Giamatti work his magic as he tries to fig out Eisenheim and outmanoeuvre the Prince while anchoring the film from drifting into phantasy. Norton and Biel are both restrained and prevalent with emotional intensity, giving the plastic film both meaning and a sense of magic.
In the end we get the tangible magic of true dear, illusions of many kinds, with number one rate performances and terrific set and costume design. Possible Academy Award contender.