Blog review of The Illusionist

[GreenEyesToo]

I love this:

Although I like Edward Norton, I think Rufus Sewell stole the show. He was by far the most convincing person - his brutality, rational, and cruel coldness were very worthy of praise. He captured the madness of the aristocrat well.

odetorichmondva.blogspot.com/2007/08/lots-of-popcorn-installment-i.html

Will there ever be anything where he doesn't steal the show? Answer: nope!

[maxx02]

Agreed. I got Amazing Grace yesterday, so I'm in the throws of that right now.

Will there ever be anything where people look at his character for what he's actually saying and not some preconceived stock notion of evil or good or happy or sad?

This character was so much more than what this person took away.

Oh well, I guess we should just be happy that she likes him.

[miss october]

I think Rufus and Edward should've swapped roles.

[maxx02]

missoctober said:

I think Rufus and Edward should've swapped roles.

um, I don't think Rufus would have cared for that as he's on a campaign these days to be a character actor.

Personally, I think the film was woefully miscast on many levels. But I also think that's a problem Hollyweird seems to be rife with these days.

The Black Dahlia comes to mind. Gorgeous picture in every detail and a cast that was nothing short of embarrassing.

[GreenEyesToo]

maxx02 said:

This character was so much more than what this person took away.

She took away a lot more than most people who only know Rufus for his baddie roles! When the film came out here, I saw plenty of reviews which basically went "oh, evil Sewell again" and didn't look beyond that.

[maxx02]

greeneyestoo said:

When the film came out here, I saw plenty of reviews which basically went "oh, evil Sewell again" and didn't look beyond that.

I'm working on capping Amazing Grace and I want to put in every cap because each one has something different and unique. I ran across a series in which empathy was the primary emotion and each second has a different flavor of empathy. It's really rather extraordinary.

I recall reading a review when AG came out in the UK by some reviewer who tossed off Rufus' performance implying it was just crazy Sewell at it again and he'd done it a million times. They even suggested that Thomas Clarkson might not have been at all eccentric and it was a bid to steal the show. It's good to know that not all of the idiotic, ill informed reviewers in the world live in the US. ;D

[miss october]

maxx02 said:

missoctober said:

I think Rufus and Edward should've swapped roles.

um, I don't think Rufus would have cared for that as he's on a campaign these days to be a character actor.

The Black Dahlia comes to mind. Gorgeous picture in every detail and a cast that was nothing short of embarrassing.

True, true. I was just thinking about seeing more of him in the film. Just me bein' selfish! ;D

And I agree with The Black Dahlia too. I saw it in the theater and couldn't wait for it to end.

[herrmannka]

well, i haven't seen "amazing grace" yet but do believe it'll be on at the cinemas in Poland ,too!!! you are always the luckier ones to see his movies first...unlucky me (