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Illusion

Play trailer Poster for Illusion PG-13 2004 1h 46m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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36% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Donald Baines (Kirk Douglas) is a legendary filmmaker in the twilight of his life. Slowly dying, he watches his life's work in a private screening room, but he is haunted by the sacrifices he made for his art, and especially by the rejection of Christopher (Michael Goorjian), his illegitimate son. One night, the ghost of a long-dead movie editor transports Donald to an old theater, where he sees three visions of his son's life and gets a final chance to make a change in that life.

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Illusion

Critics Reviews

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Moira MacDonald Seattle Times 02/24/2006
2.5/4
There's a sincerity to the filmmaking here that's at times quite touching: Illusion presents a portrait of true love that's as picture perfect as the sunny spring garden in which we see Isabelle. Go to Full Review Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle 02/17/2006
2.5/4
Douglas does his best acting while watching and reacting to what he sees on screen. If this ends up being his cinematic swan song, it will not have been a bad way to go. Go to Full Review Luke Y. Thompson New Times 03/16/2006
No doubt the director worked with what he could get, and was extremely fortunate that he could get an icon of the screen to bless his project. Go to Full Review Mike McGranaghan Aisle Seat 03/08/2006
0.5/4
One of the worst dramas I have ever seen. In fact, this movie is so dramatically inept that I wanted to tear my eyeballs out. Go to Full Review Rory L. Aronsky Film Threat 02/26/2006
3/5
Unavoidably, there are some sugary moments and clichs such as rain-soaked kisses and outlandish "artistic" stage performances, but [Illusion] keeps hold of that just-another-day-in-Hollywood feeling. Go to Full Review William Arnold Seattle Post-Intelligencer 02/23/2006
C+
Several of its transitions are glaringly contrived, and its morality tale never quite comes together to be the shattering spiritual experience it wants to be. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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04/04/2019 Clever, beautiful movie and a testimony to what cinema should be. See more 07/10/2014 Excellent movie want to own See more 02/24/2014 The acting had me constantly rolling my eyes, and for a movie that is so centered on a great film maker, the film making was awful. Very contrived. See more 09/08/2012 Very good love story. I can watch this again and again See more 12/24/2011 Touching tear-jerker, self-involved movie director's life flashes before his eyes See more 11/24/2011 This was a movie that I can only explain as a new John Hughes movie with a twist. I really enjoyed both the performances of Kirk Douglas and Michael Goorjian. The whole film was surreal, but it was very creative in the way it moves the plot along. See more Read all reviews
Illusion

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Cast & Crew

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Michael A. Goorjian

Director

Kirk Douglas

Donald Baines

Michael A. Goorjian

Christopher Baines

Ron Marasco

Stan

Karen Tucker

Isabelle

Richmond Arquette

Mortimer Malalatete

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Illusion

Illusion (2004) A scene from the film "Illusion." On the set of the film "Illusion." A scene from the film "Illusion." A scene from the film "Illusion." A scene from the film "Illusion." A scene from the film "Illusion." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Donald Baines (Kirk Douglas) is a legendary filmmaker in the twilight of his life. Slowly dying, he watches his life's work in a private screening room, but he is haunted by the sacrifices he made for his art, and especially by the rejection of Christopher (Michael Goorjian), his illegitimate son. One night, the ghost of a long-dead movie editor transports Donald to an old theater, where he sees three visions of his son's life and gets a final chance to make a change in that life.
Director
Michael A. Goorjian
Producer
Kevin Weisman
Screenwriter
Michael A. Goorjian, Chris Horvath, Tressa DiFiglia
Distributor
Entitled Entertainment
Production Co
Entitled Entrtainment, Illusion Productions, Maldoror Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 23, 2004, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Feb 17, 2006
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.3K
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital