A tale of magic

Sara Saleh reviews The Illusionist and its heroine Jessica Biel.

The Illusionist
Director: Neil Burger
Cast: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Paul Giamatti

The Illusionist is the latest film by the Oscar winning producers of Crash. Norton plays Eisenheim, a stage magician who leaves crowds amazed with his magical abilities.

At one of his shows, he recognises Sophie von Teschen (Biel) the beautiful fiancé of Crown Prince Leopold, one of the most important and influential men in Europe in turn-of-the-century Vienna. An inescapable bond forms between them.

The stage is now set as Leopold prepares to go to any length to win Sophie's heart and uses the help of Vienna's Chief Inspector Uhl (Giammati), to prove Eisenheim as nothing but a fraud.

Well cast and with an intriguing script capable of blurring the line where reality ends and the magic begins, this is a stylishly crafted story of magic and murder. It will not hypnotise you, but will certainly keep you enchanted with its soul.

Flags of Our Fathers
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Adam Beach, Jesse Bradford, Jamie Bell, Paul Walker

Based on the bestselling book by James Bradley with Ron Powers, this is a compelling, fictionalised story about one of the bloodiest battles of World War II raging on the island of Iwo Jima between the American and Japanese forces in February 1945.

The award-winning director offers no mythical stories of heroes. Instead, he presents, in a non-judgmental way, complex characters in excruciating situations trying to justify doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Ryan Phillippe's thoughtful performance and Adam Beach's troubling portrayal of Hayes are perfect illustrations of just how well the cast is suited to the challenge.

This may lack the typical Hollywood style, popcorn appeal of a blockbuster but it is an important movie nonetheless.

So if you like your battle movies, you'll love this.

60-SECOND PROFILE: Jessica Biel

Born: March 3, 1982

Background: Biel initially trained to become a vocalist and appeared at an early age in Annie, The Sound of Music and Anything Goes. Biel left Tufts University to pursue her acting career.

First Seen: Biel's career first took took off as a fashion model. In 2002, she signed up to become the face of L'Oreal cosmetics.

Lucky Break: At 14 she landed the role of Mary Camden in the long-running TV series 7th Heaven.

Real Claim to Fame: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), Blade: Trinity (2004). Her career finally blossomed when she starred opposite Edward Norton in The Illusionist (2006). Her most recent film is Home of The Brave about US soldiers in Iraq.

Future Plans: She will star as Liz in Next.

Private Life: Biel dated actor Chris Evans from 2001 to 2006.

- The writer is a movie mad 19-year-old