This is one of the best written, directed and well-acted films I have seen in a long time. It is engrossing from start to finish and is one unique love story. I have always loved magic and Eisenheim is one magician of superior intellect and talent.
“The Illusionist” would have been one of the family films Dove has been trying to convince Hollywood to make if it wasn’t for the strongly implied sexual encounter between Eisenheim and Sophie. They just had to put that scene in which added nothing in my opinion. I think it would have been far more passionate if the writer would have built the sexual tension by refraining to have the two fornicate. This film has all the other family elements going for it. It is free of foul language (Although some other reviews have referenced the F-word, this reviewer didn’t hear it and doesn’t believe the film contained it), nudity, graphic violence, occult and drug use.
It is a shame that Dove cannot award “The Illusionist” the Dove Seal due to implicit sexual behavior.
