The Illusionist (2010)

The Illusionist (PG) - Review

"Mime not?"

 Animation Sylvain Chomet's followup to "The Triplets of Belleville" may lose him a few fans but should gain him even more credit with the artistic crowd.  Seen as just a movie, it tells the tale of a magician who's vaudevillian act is slowly drying up like the same styled circuit.  The magician takes into his care a little girl, and together they attempt to survive in the big city.  Beautifully animated by hand, with gorgeous color work and with delicate audio work, The Illusionist is a marvel.  It is also quietly depressing and desperate, and those coming from "Triplets" may be in for a shock.  I found myself wondering why and what this project really was, and so doing some research I found out the film was in fact a lost manuscript by the great silent film clown Jacques Tati (think the French Charlie Chaplin).  It was to be Tati's last movie, and Chomet due to his love of the art, brought it to life one frame at a time.  Animation as an art form is the perfect medium to bring Tati's last story back to life, the dying art form of animation the perfect backdrop for the loss of a tradition like vaudeville.  A sad sweet tale told and made with a breaking heart, like Tati its time has come and gone.

7.5 Red Balloons out of 10 (GOOD)