Yen, who's taking on real star charisma in middle age, is aces as Ip, with a simple dignity that exactly mirrors the movie's own and a gracefulness in combat that's very different from his trademark whiplash style." grip through their sheer virtuosity rather than visual flash. Variety's Derek Elley attributed the film's success to its superb action, magnetic lead performance, and the way the two combine: "Marbled with humor and inventiveness, and employing just occasional slo-mo, these fight scenes. Some of his feats may be a little exaggerated, but they're always deliciously cinematic. The film doesn't stint on the horrors he has to witness and endure, but the focus here is on how, despite everything, Ip persists in showing his skill and character. His early years are brought to incredibly vivid life by Donnie Yen, whose performance here takes Ip through the dangers and difficulties of the Chinese-Japanese conflict in World War II. Roger Ebert noted that "The Illusionist" succeeds mostly by dint of its terrific quartet of central performances, and he reserved special praise for Giamatti: "His expressions and line readings alone are worth the price of admission, as they convey Uhl's uncomfortable position on the horns of a devilish dilemma, or his Holmesian delight in assembling another section of the picture-puzzle."įor those who don't know, Ip Man was a Wing Chun master - a humble but incredibly gifted martial artist who would eventually go on (as "Ip Man" itself will inform you) to teach Bruce Lee himself. Trying to break it off results in a horror that pits Eisenheim against Leopold in an elaborate, public, and illusion-filled battle for justice that has to be mediated by Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti). Sophie loves Eisenheim and fears Leopold, but she doesn't have much choice in her marriage. "The Illusionist" takes place in 19th century Vienna, where a magician named Eisenheim (Edward Norton) rises from poor, obscure origins to national fame - but his celebrity comes too late, and by the time he's wealthy enough to be a suitable match for his true love, Sophie (Jessica Biel), she's already engaged to the vicious Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell).
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