Film: The Illusionist (L’illusionniste)
Writer/Director: Sylvain Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville)
Genre: Animation (2010)
In brief: It’s not easy making a living as an Illusionist. The unnamed magician in Sylvain Chomet’s latest animated feature film got his start in Paris, 1939. Twenty years later, he struggles to entertain small, unenthusiastic audiences at the Music Hall de Paris, the Olympia and the Lido. Maybe he’ll do better on the other side of the channel.
In Scotland, he lands a gig at a little pub, where Alice, the young bar maid, is totally enamored with him. When the illusionist notices that Alice’s shoes are falling apart, he uses his wages to buy her a new pair of red shoes. Alice believes he does it by magic. So when he moves on to Edinburgh, she follows him. The magician, who can barely support himself, is torn. He doesn’t want to disappoint young Alice, but he doesn’t do it by magic. Sadly, Alice seems to be the only one who believes in his magic.
Lovers of The Triplets of Belleville will find quite a bit here that feels familiar. Unlike The Triplets, however, the plot in The Illusionist seems a bit thin. While we’re enjoying the wonderful and artistic animation, we find ourselves wishing for some of the magic of The Triplets. Although The Triplets had its melancholy moments, on the whole, it was a joyful movie. The Illusionist is quite melancholy from beginning to end and certainly needs more magic.
2 popped kernels
A beautifully animated but melancholy tale that’s thin on plot and short on magic
Popcorn Profile
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Art house
Mood: Neither upbeat nor somber
Tempo: Slow moving
Visual Style: Animated/computer
Character Development: Not that kind of film
Language: None
Social Significance: Pure entertainment
