The Illusionist (Chomet)

[ThePlashyBubbler]

This is the very first I've heard of this, but apparently this is Chomet's feature-length follow-up to the Triplets of Belleville...from an unproduced script written by Jacques Tati!

Described as being about "a dying breed of stage entertainer whose thunder is being stolen by emerging rock stars. Forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theaters, garden parties and bars, he meets a young fan who changes his life forever.”

Just jumped up my list of most anticipated, that's for sure.

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/id/318...he_illusionist

[Sycophant]

I was just wondering aloud over the weekend about what had become of this project. Nifty!

[Sven]

One of my top 5 most anticipated movies at the moment. Couldn't even tell you what the other 4 are.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Some pictures have surfaced:















Looks great.

[D_Davis]

That looks incredible.

[Dukefrukem]

whoooooooooa

[Winston*]

I thought it was just okay. Thought Chomet seemed constrained by reverance to Tati's screenplay. Much preferred Triplets.

Probably more for existing Tati fans like Qrazy than anyone else. I've only seen Holiday which was fine.

[Dillard]

U.S. Trailer. Looks absolutely lovely. Tati fan here, and I love the way Chromet has captured some of Hulot's mannerisms. For example, the way Hulot stands up straight and clicks his shoes together as an expression of determination.

[baby doll]

It looks great, but overall, it left a sour taste in my mouth. (My blog entry on the film can be found here.)

[Dillard]

It looks great, but overall, it left a sour taste in my mouth. (My blog entry on the film can be found here.)

Shoot, baby doll, that sucks! Tati's films are all in some ways a memorial to a certain way of looking at life, but never a dirge!

On that note, how would you describe the way of life Tati wants to go back to? It's skeptical of new technology and stylistic fads and celebratory of a certain kind of humanism that Tati sees disappearing. But has Tati's way of life ever existed though post-industrialization? Industrialization has meant materialism, new technologies, and stylistic fads. Is it a matter of wealth? Tati critiquing the wealthy? Aren't Tati's tastes (for example, his dress, his umbrella) revealing of a materialistic attitude and some measure of wealth in their own way?

I realize watching Tati's films that I completely buy into Tati's critique of modern society, but I wonder if the alternative Tati is presenting in the person of Hulot is safe from Tati's own criticism. What do you think?

[baby doll]

Shoot, baby doll, that sucks! Tati's films are all in some ways a memorial to a certain way of looking at life, but never a dirge!

On that note, how would you describe the way of life Tati wants to go back to? It's skeptical of new technology and stylistic fads and celebratory of a certain kind of humanism that Tati sees disappearing. But has Tati's way of life ever existed though post-industrialization? Industrialization has meant materialism, new technologies, and stylistic fads. Is it a matter of wealth? Tati critiquing the wealthy? Aren't Tati's tastes (for example, his dress, his umbrella) revealing of a materialistic attitude and some measure of wealth in their own way?

I realize watching Tati's films that I completely buy into Tati's critique of modern society, but I wonder if the alternative Tati is presenting in the person of Hulot is safe from Tati's own criticism. What do you think?

Well, unlike Mon oncle, where he spends a considerable portion of the movie celebrating Paris' working class neighborhoods, here the Tatischeff character is a lousy magician who plays to unappreciative audiences, so there's nothing to go back to really. I don't know if that answers your question, exactly.

[Spinal]

Probably more for existing Tati fans like Qrazy than anyone else.

I'm only lukewarm on Tati. This film was far more satisfying than any actual Tati film I've seen. Funnier. More poignant.

[Ezee E]

I'm only lukewarm on Tati. This film was far more satisfying than any actual Tati film I've seen. Funnier. More poignant.

Poignant, for sure. Something that was probably lacking in Tati's movies.

But funny? I can't really think of anything outside a few gags in the car repair shop now.

[Winston*]

But funny? I can't really think of anything outside a few gags in the car repair shop now.

I liked the drunk Scottish guy and the giggly Beatles guys at the start.

[Raiders]

Poignant, for sure. Something that was probably lacking in Tati's movies.

Not at all. Well, not to those who refuse to partake in the koolaid Spinal is consuming.

[Derek]

Not at all. Well, not to those who refuse to partake in the koolaid Spinal is consuming.

Yeah, Tati's films are brimming with poignancy. You can question whether they're funny or not, but not that.

[ledfloyd]

I'm only lukewarm on Tati. This film was far more satisfying than any actual Tati film I've seen. Funnier. More poignant.

agreed 100%.

[B-side]

agreed 100%.

Same here. I should note I've only seen Playtime.

[soitgoes...]

The Illusionist (Chomet, 2010) **½

I'm just gonna leave this here for Spinal.

[Spinal]

That would probably translate to *** on my scale, so, you know, whatever.

[Derek]

That would probably translate to *** on my scale, so, you know, whatever.

Yeah, it gets a 'sans mild' yay from me. I love Chomet's animation style (Triplets is one of my favorite animated films of the last decade) and it's a sweet delicate little film, but, and this is where we won't agree, I couldn't get past imagining it being better had Tati himself starred and directed in it.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Yeah, it gets a 'sans mild' yay from me. I love Chomet's animation style (Triplets is one of my favorite animated films of the last decade) and it's a sweet delicate little film, but, and this is where we won't agree, I couldn't get past imagining it being better had Tati himself starred and directed in it.

I really, really, really liked this but I think can agree with this.

Still what a touching movie. I couldn't think of a better epilogue for Tati. Maybe my favorite of the year.