Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Nonureva Really Surprised!

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Phil (ROC-7) I do not know what or why Kirk Douglas or the innocent audience members could possibly have done to be punished to be held captive watching such amateurish drivel of a script and performances. Mr. Douglas despite his speech impediment due to his stroke is still light years away from this excercise in complete inanity and is the only bright spot in the whole proceedings. The script's contrivances are so obvioous that they cause unexpected laughter. When your main hero is a clod and heroine a cloddess there is very little to root for along with such arch melodramatics from the varied clichéd antoganists ie: performance arts villain, corporate nerd villain and gas station meanie villain. It gives one hope that death will release all of us from this hideous collection of vignettes that are suppose to give us a morality tale to take to heart. I would advise to take to the hills if ever you meet this mess of a movie again!

Buff2001 This is an outstanding film that will probably be seen by very few people. It is a film festival type movie. That translates in this case to a movie that is thoughtful, well written and performed exceptionally well.I found this movie and many others like it, including a lot of short films, through the Spiritual Cinema Circle, which I have recently joined. Illusion was on their monthly DVD - Volume 5 2007.Illusion is a delightful departure from the computer graphics, violence, and sameness prevalent in current popular movies. If you are a true movie buff like me and want to enter the world of very different movies, this is a great place to start.

steve-2576 Are the highlights of our lives inscribed in a great "Book of Life?" What kind of impact do our actions (and inactions) have on others' lives? Can we redeem the past with good works in the present? Can a movie that takes on these deep questions be captivating, entertaining and inspiring … all at once? In his new film, Illusion, director/writer/co-star Michael Goorjian answers these questions with an emphatic yes! Illusion is a love story pairing Christopher Baines (Goorjian) with Isabelle (Karen Tucker) in a dance of thwarted intentions. But it's Christopher's father, Donald, played by the legendary Kirk Douglas in a luminous performance, who may hold the key to their future. Donald, on his deathbed, regrets having forgone love in his life for the sake of his career, his biggest regret being the abandonment of Christopher, his illegitimate son, 30 years earlier. With some "magical" help from Stan (Ron Marasco), a long- deceased favorite film editor, Donald is shown three films -- three visions -- each representing a different period of Christopher's life, each reflecting the impact of his abandonment. In a romantic homage to Capra's classic It's A Wonderful Life, Goorjian masterfully leads us through the yearnings, the dangers and pathos, and the possibilities for redemption that we all face. This is terrific storytelling, a drama of life, love and death, with a tone and texture that lead us all to question, how real and immutable is this life we lead, and how much of it is just a fable, a dream, an Illusion? A treat for heart and soul.

ericsjam The "Illusion" reminds me of Cinema Paradiso and Broadway Danny Rose in that it challenges the viewer to suspend its belief and follow the fantasy of second chances and missed opportunities. This is done in an effective manner with the main characters played by Kirk Douglas and Mike Goorjian.The challenges of the film are evident in how much to show both the viewer and Douglas' character without giving away the whole truth. Goorjian's character is consistently interesting in that with no direct intervention of a patriarch, he is destined to attack life in unconventionally original ways. An example of this is the wooing of his first and only love by round-robin poetry. Douglas is very engaging, searching for his son through the only medium which he can relate-cinema. Understandably, neither character changes, until the very end. It is a sad statement on the affairs of father/son relationships. Not being able/unwilling to relate seems to be the common theme in this film. However, when it counts, a true father's voice will always ring loud and clear. The performances are consistent and distant at the same time. This is clearly a complex film which simply describes lost relationships rediscovered in the only medium that can truly impacts everyone. Yet its appeal can translate to all ages. This film should be seen all and I feel that Kirk Douglas may finally have found his first Oscar.