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Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin, Duncan MacNeil, Raymond Mearns

The Illusionist is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With emerging rock stars stealing his thunder in the late 1950s, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatr... read more read more...es, at garden parties and in bars and cafés. Then, while performing in a village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever. Watching his performance for the excited villagers who are celebrating the arrival of electricity on their remote island, Alice is awestruck by his show and believes his tricks are real magic. Though they don‟t speak the same language, the two lonely strangers quickly bond through small kindnesses. Fascinated by The Illusionist, Alice stows away on his departing ship and follows him to Edinburgh. There, they quickly fall into a father - daughter relationship, with Alice keeping their home at a boarding house for vaudevillians, while he goes to work in a small local theatre. Enchanted by her enthusiasm for his act, The Illusionist rewards Alice with increasingly lavish gifts he has 'conjured' into existence. Desperate not to disappoint her, he cannot bring himself to reveal that magic does not exist and that he‟s driving himself to ruin working all night jobs to buy her gifts. As The Illusionist grows older, Alice grows up. She falls in love with a young man and is no longer so enchanted by The Illusionist‟s conjuring. She moves on with her life, and The Illusionist no longer has to pretend. Untangled from his own web of deceit, he resumes his life as a much wiser man. -- (C) Sony Pictures Classics

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78% liked it

13,472 ratings

Critics

90% liked it

117 critics

PG, 1 hr. 22 min.

Directed by: Sylvain Chomet

Release Date: December 25, 2010

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DVD Release Date: May 10, 2011

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Stats: 1,271 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,271)

  • 5oclockcoffee
    May 11, 2012
    5oclockcoffee
    For its beauty and my expectations, high expectations, "L'illusionniste" is one of those films you just have to watch in a movie theater. Unable to do it, though, I had to go against Tati's 'principles' and watch it as only our modern time allows: the big screen was replaced by m... read morey laptop's one. Convinced that it was the reason of my disappointment, I watched it for the second time. The very beginning makes me smile. I like its humor. I can see Chomet's touch here and there. Visually speaking, there's no other way than say that "L'illusionniste" is perfect. However, something is missing.

    I could imagine "My Dog Tulip", amazing animation entirely supported by narration, without any words and it would be more interesting. Originality, that's the word. The weirdness, the chaos, the freshness of "Triplets of Belleville" gives place to an accessible and bland narrative. I like a lot the idea of the old illusionist trying to survive in a modern world of images and sounds. I like a lot the idea of two strangers who don't speak the same language trying to communicate somehow. I 've already seen myself in a similar situation, walking with a small dictionary in my bag, point out words I didn't dare to talk afraid of the wrong pronunciation. I like how such relationships can develop, but was it really necessary Alice to become a Barbie and meets prince charming? The end can be melancholic, but it's still a Disney fairy tale.

    After reading Richard Tatischeff 's letter, I felt relieved. He says how in the original script "the young girl attracts the attention of a handsome young man who exposes the conjurer's magic as fraudulent, nothing more than cheap tricks, illusions created to entertain an audience. Unable to hold onto her affections once his charade has been exposed the script concludes with the conjurer disappearing off into the sunset free of his deceit having as he always known he would lost the affections of the young girl to youth and the vibrancy of the city once she was able to see beyond his theatrics" . That was exactly my point. I was not convinced that Alice believed his illusions were real, even so, she is more amazed by what she can gain from his magic than the magic itself. She only discovers the truth with Tatischeff's note that "magicians do not exist". He would, of course, lose her for the young boy, but I'm sure he wouldn't lose Alice's affections even after "his charade had been exposed" because she is, like the boy, a good (in both meanings) fairy tale character.

    Something like that - "throughout his career Tati was often quoted as saying that his Hulot was just a character he had created and he himself was a very different person to what was seen on screen. The very title, l'Illusionniste illustrates how Tati was aware at how his public persona was a veil that contradicted the real man"- would be quite interesting. However, after watching "Mon Oncle", I have to say that Alice is quite possible the way she is portrayed. Tati would be more whimsical and not so emotive as Chomet is here, but I can picture Monsieur Hulot taking several jobs to dress up the neighbor's young daughter if in the same situation that Tatischeff and Alice were.





  • RCCLBC
    January 10, 2012
    RCCLBC
    As with The Triplets Of Belleville, I was immediately enveloped by the story and the world presented here and the (for all intents and purposes) "silent film" style of story telling.

    My modern (read: jaded) sensibilities had me thrown off at first. I kept thinking how can thi... read mores old man not be freaked out that this young girl ran away to be with him? Surely people would question his intentions?

    But if you can get past that and watch the story unfold under the premise of a kindly Father trying to live up to the expectations of his (in this case adopted) daughter...it is a beautiful story and really quite sad.

    The animation and music is delightful and really make the whole experience that much more magical. While this is not an animated film that would hold a (normal) childs interest for very long, I think most adults will appreciate the many layers of charm.
  • JonathanHutchings
    September 24, 2011
    JonathanHutchings
    The story as a whole is a little vapid (which critics of this film point to as a fatal flaw when compared to Tati's original screenplay), but The Illusionist features one of the most moving, heartfelt and poignant ending scenes I've seen in a while -- especially considering the s... read moretory behind the screenplay. Anyone interested in the great, yet troubled career of Jacques Tati should see this immediately.
  • fb1216165431
    September 10, 2011
    fb1216165431
    A charming animation that delights with the delicate and meaningful relationship of a selfless magician and a young girl, The Illusionist is a visual and aural minimalism at best. Lovely.
  • rjayhutchinson
    August 14, 2011
    rjayhutchinson
    With beautiful animation and a somber story, 2010's "The Illusionist" is a lovely film. The film follows a struggling old illusionist, Tatischeff, as he's followed into the city by a young girl, Alice. As the old man and the girl live their lives together in a platonic, grandfath... read moreerly relationship, both slowly change and learn more about themselves and life. "The Illusionist" is touching, engaging, and wholly remarkable.
  • fb100001581602053
    June 11, 2011
    fb100001581602053
    Despite the wondrous and magical hand-drawn animation, The Illusionist is by no means an uplifting film. This film delves into the misery of a dying art(s) and into the portrait of a man whose life is crumbling as a new wave of entertainment is flourishing. Beautifully executed... read more and a film with effort, passion, and thought gushing from the screen.
  • neverteaseaweasel
    June 6, 2011
    neverteaseaweasel
    The thing about The Illusionist that I'm most struck by in the end is that it looks ever so much better than it actually was. However, that's a horrible way to open as the film really is good. It just looked so much better! Still, the story is sweet and charming; the characters a... read morend likable and the whole thing carries a low-key whimsical atmosphere. The animation is beautiful and fluid; the music, as well. The whole thing is incredibly sweet and sentimental, and for once, that's not a bad thing. It works incredibly well.
  • SirPant
    May 31, 2011
    SirPant
    It's quite sad and very poignant but The Illusionist is such a heartfelt story, animated beautifully by Sylvain Chomet. The follow up to Belleville Rendez-Vous is a long time coming but well worth the wait. Humorous, touching and very, very magical. The Illusionist is something v... read moreery special indeed.
  • lewiskendell
    May 11, 2011
    lewiskendell
    It's been far too long since I've seen a movie with as much charming detail and personality as The Illusionist, an absolutely gorgeous traditionally animated tale about an aging traveling magician and a young companion that he meets and who accompanies him to Edinburgh, Scotland.... read more

    The art style is wonderful, with memorable, unique-looking characters and beautiful backdrops. The music is great, as well. There's very little dialogue, and much of that is in French. The story is quite easy to follow from the actions and expressions of the character, but this is definitely a movie that will interest older people more than it will younger kids.

    I highly recommend The Illusionist. It's a bittersweet, lovely movie that was obviously made with a lot of care.
  • Alireza64ir
    April 30, 2011
    Alireza64ir
    The result is a rare meditation.Extremely charming and magical animation with marvelous and atmospheric score which turned this simple animation to a sweet dream.My favorite animation of 2010.It's obviously ahead of overrated Toystory.

View All The Illusionist (L'illusionniste) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
February 9, 2011
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The hand-drawn cell-animation - no 3D, thank you - is watercolor soft and charming. As is the film itself. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
February 4, 2011
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

This is a remarkable movie: lovely, slow-paced and almost silent, rich with pathos and deft comic gestures. Full Review

Chris Vognar
February 3, 2011
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

The Illusionistis magical in more ways than one. Full Review

Colin Covert
February 3, 2011
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

The story has enough sentimental schmaltz to grease a locomotive. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
February 3, 2011
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

A lovely appreciation of Tati and a loving, bittersweet look at the end of the 1950s, before entertainers like the magician of the title were displaced by rock bands and other more visceral acts. Full Review

Tom Long
January 28, 2011
Tom Long, Detroit News

A French import that's long on grace notes and wry humor, it eschews flash and opts for heart to great effect. Full Review

Ty Burr
January 27, 2011
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Watching "The Illusionist'' is like peering through a rippled windowpane onto a past that knows it's disappearing. Full Review

Liam Lacey
January 21, 2011
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The gentle delights range from the depiction of late fifties' Edinburgh with the milky light and gothic-influenced architecture, to the clever evocation of Tati's bumbling, comic rhythms. Full Review

J. R. Jones
January 21, 2011
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

The dialogue is multilingual but largely incidental to the action; the physical comedy is gracefully rendered and often magical. Full Review

Peter Howell
January 20, 2011
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The Illusionist is almost a silent movie, save for amusing sound affects, snatches of garbled dialogue and a beguiling piano score that inspires deep reflection. Full Review

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