tomosp1965

This is a great movie, but could have been an excellent movie. Norton and Biel are the two lovers at the centre of a story of love, loss, Mystery and magic.

The illusion of existence, of life and death, are the films theme. What is more important though is the sense that love can conquer all, maybe with a little smoke and mirrors, but nonetheless, ultimately find redemption.

Paul Giamatti is excellent in the role of inspector Uhl, and he is the much needed arbitrator between the two protagonists that are the conniving Prince, Sewell, and the composed illusionist, Norton.

The premise of the movie is a well trodden path for a multitude of writers, a much clichéd story of good overcoming evil when love is at stake.

Biel plays her part well, so does Jake Wood, (Yes Eastenders own Jack Branning). In fact, there are no wasted roles and I thought everyone was on top form.

The film could have done with an extra 15 minutes to add explanation to certain scenes, but I suppose the why's, what's and where's are understood without explanation.

I really enjoyed this movie.

8/10.

Brad Pitt is an excellent actor, but out of his depth here. He's playing a WW2 Canadian Wing Commander, for the RAF. This isn't the problem, the problem is asking the viewer to believe that his Canadian French could pass for a true Parisians French, and fool any German soldiers ears. Also, the German bombings of London, (During the Blitz) ended in 1941, but the one armed man states he last saw the real Marianne 'Back in 41', so how can the blitz still be happening a year after their raid in Morroco, if the real Marianne was killed in 41? As far as a love story, it's too far fetched and unbelievable. A Canadian Secret Agent doing derring do's for the British, and successfully killing many German soldiers, and spies. Also, he is a trained Agent for the British secret service, but falls under the spell of a secret agent for the Reich. Sorry... too silly, too sentimental and too miscast. The cast, especially Cottilard, do their best, but it is not believable, and that's the problem. 4/10.

Ignore the low scores, this is a good film.

It's dated and seems a bit wobbly here and there, but the script and acting are excellent.

I understand why they used Martin Sheen, not because he is a fine actor, it was to get financing and possibly attract a US audience.

The movie shows that even honest people can be lured by the 'Big Payday', and commit crime. This is what the movies premise revolves around, and does it well. Martin Sheen, an architect, finds himself in a situation, where financially he is stretched by his families lavish lifestyle. He's approached to help a band of crooks pull off a heist in a banks security box room. Initially he is duped into thinking he is employed to help extend an office building, but discovers it's a ruse.

He confronts the leader of the crooks and reveals he has worked out the ruse, then is told of the real reason they approached him. He refuses to help, at first, but after his bank threatens to foreclose on his mortgage, and he realises his kids would have to leave their private schools, he agrees to help.

What follows is a classic mix of heist, greed, desperation and redemption.

I hope you watch this movie and make your own mind up.

It could do with being redone with modern techniques, script and a bigger budget.