The Illusionist (2010)

Yesterday was about failing on promise. Today is about exceeding it. 
I don't know about you about when Belleville Rendez-Vous arrived, it was so instantly classic it seemed like the film's maker Sylvain Chomet had always been here producing classics when it was his debut. It was funny and strangely beautiful, warm and charming yet unsettling.
His follow-up, The Illusionist- is all the above and more. It's the story of an old magician and the burgeoning life of a young woman from the Outer Hebrides.
This French magician has been sent to England by his agent and doesn't seem particularly plussed about it either way- this is a hardened performer that has probably done the same routine twice a night for longer than he can remember.
But times are inevitably a'changing as they will have a habit of doing. His brand of subtle showmanship and understated talent are being left behind to make way for rock and/or roll and what the hell is that about?
Needless to say our man's stay in London is short lived and he's sent to somewhere in Northern Scotland, to do a pub-gig -again he takes this large commute to work in his stride but while there his presence enchants this older-teenage girl who's probably never been anywhere and rarely sees strangers. Whatever the reason, this gentleman inspires her to stowaway and leave her island with him; Again he doesn't seem at all surprised or concerned that his young woman is inviting herself on his journey. It should be said at those point, there's no inkling of anything untoward or creepy about this relationship but then, it's not particularly paternal. It's just a guy trying to give this young kid a break and get her some nice things. It's only money- he can always go out and get more. 
That said she does seem to have expensive tastes and she doesn't seem to understand the cost of anything...
I've made it sound more solemn than it is; there are lots of physical comedy set-pieces, lots of silly characters like the foppish young rockers and the various crazy agents, the magician has. But the other theatrical characters like the ventriloquist and the booze-soaked clown are truly haunting in their melancholy as like the magician, they know their time is coming to an end. 
The young girl though is really coming into her own. The new clothes she been bought are making her feel more happy and she's enjoying taking in city-life in Edinburgh. She's even caught the eye of a young Sean Connery-type looking fellow...
Chomet has succeeded again in creating a world that you probably wouldn't want to live in but is nice to visit. Like France or Scotland, then. It reminds us that cel-animation shouldn't be forgotten because it has an impressionist quality that's impossible to have in computer-animation. It's the difference between a painting and a photograph. And even despite quite a maudlin ending, you still leave The Illusionist feeling your life has been reaffirmed just a little bit...


I watched The Illusionist (2010) online via Blinkbox.
My 2011 in Movies will return with Animal Kingdom (2010)...