 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Illusionist
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Magic tricks and a murder mystery. Teens and up.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the film includes some mysterious behaviors and effects, so the magic tricks and ghostly apparitions look convincing (via digital help). The prince abuses his fiancée verbally and physically. She appears to be stabbed, her neck and torso bloodied; her body is discovered floating in a river. She later appears as a ghost (among other ghosts) for a magician's show, frightening and awing the audience. Characters wield swords and the men threaten one another with violence, leading to a fight at film's end. One sex scene emphasizes the passion of the moment, without explicit nakedness. One character uses the f-word.
What's the story?
The son of a cabinetmaker, young Edward Ambramovitz falls in love with a beautiful girl, Sophie. He charms her with his interest in magic and ornate devices, but because she's royalty, their friendship, even as it develops into young love, is forbidden. After they're dragged apart one night, he disappears, leaving Sophie to follow her fate, that is, to be married off in a royal arrangement. All this is revealed (as flashback) at the film's beginning by Viennese Police Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti), who is assigned by Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) to discover the truth behind a mysterious magician called Eisenheim (young Edward grown up, played by Edward Norton). The prince is affianced to Sophie (now played by Jessica Biel), and means to contain the appeal of the showman. Not only does Sophie appear strangely drawn to him, but so do all his subjects. The film follows Uhl's investigation as it comes to encompass Sophie's bloody murder.
Is it any good?
A ravishing romance framed as a slow-moving mystery, THE ILLUSIONIST smartly questions the distinctions and overlaps between belief and truth. On one hand, it concerns a young couple whose love is denied by their class differences. In between, the film also looks at class and gender conflicts, with an acknowledgment of racism of the day (19th century Vienna).
Aided considerably by Philip Glass' typically swirling score, the film uses Uhl's skepticism to offset Edward's inscrutability and Sophie's passion, but all three characters live earnestly in a realm of faith and trust. While they all oppose the practical, egotistical prince by nature, they also fall under his rule. Leopold, by turn, hates their romanticism.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the appeal of magic shows and tricks: Why do the tricks fascinate us? How is it fun to try to figure out the deception (as the prince and the detective try to do)? How does the prince's presumption of his power make him seem selfish and greedy? How does the detective frame the story as an investigation, with his limited knowledge of events and motives?
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AGE
great for tweens and up
Great suspense movie. Might be too scary for kids under 12. Kids probably shouldn't see it in theaters.
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AGE
5 star moovie
Im am not 13, but I saw it w/ my dad. I think the moovie is a 5 star moovie because it ceeps u on ur feet and u never know how the illusionist does his majic tricks. The moovie is about how childhood-lovers that were forbiden 2 be together meet meany yers later, one is royalty and the other an illusionist who is being charged on sevral acounts. Thanks 2 their childhood love she is able 2 help save him from bing band or arested. She has been almost forst 2 marry the diabloicle prince she teems up w/ her true love and finds a way 2 escape the prince and...
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AGE
Loved it!
This is an Awesome film! Loved Eisenheim and Sophie! I think this film should be for 12 and over.
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AGE
Bravo
Wonderful film. I highly recommend this period piece for an excellent story and wonderful acting. I took my almost 10 year old and she loved it. There is some violence and a tasteful love scene. It's for mature kids 10 and up.
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AGE
An excellent family film for parents and older children
We were worried about watching this, after having read the Common Sense Media review.
After having read some parent reviews, we decided to watch it. We absolutely loved this movie! We watched it with our almost 13-year old son and our (mature) 10-year old daughter, who bothed loved it. Excellent intrigue, suspense and great ending! The sex and the violence were such a small part of the entire movie, and tastefully done, that they were almost a non-issue. There seemed less of that in this movie than in some PG movies we see. Great film!
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AGE
lovely twists
Nice period set and dress. Nice twist and gottchas. Simple but interesting.
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| Studio: | Yari Film Group |
| Director: | Neil Burger |
| Cast: | Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 18, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | January 9, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some sexuality and violence |
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