I usually get to add a favorite quote at the beginning of my review, but in this film there is never more than one word mumbled at a time. If there is it is in French and still mumbled. so consider this my favorite line "Okay."
The Illusionist is the one of the hand drawn, simple cartoons directed by Sylvain Chomet. He has also known for The Triplets of Belleville. This film is a genius blend of silent films and cartoons. It may seem a bit slow for kids, but the art is fantastic. There is also some humor in it that adults will enjoy. Many of the characters have an odd sense of dry humor to them.
The illusionist is about a man who works from job to job as a low paid illusionist. We see him do show in many small clubs in what seems to be England and he works his way up to Scotland to work in a Pub. Here he meets a young girl named Alice, who appears to be an orphan, working in the pub. He fascinates here with some tricks and as he leaves Scotland to hear to France, she follows him. They end of in Paris working and trying for a better life. There relationship is much like a father/daughter, or a Grandfather/daughter one. He works to take care of her and buy here nice things and she takes care of him too.
Their journey helps them grow as they use each other to fill the voids. This movie was great. I did not get to share all of it with my kids, but one day I will. I think they will like it as they get older. I'm excited to check out the rest of his films, such as Triplets of Belleville and the short The Old Lady and the Pigeon. Handrawn art has been shadowed by computer animation as of late, but with films like this we know it will be around forever.
8 out of 10
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