‘Illusionist’ offers magical animation

Fri., May 13, 2011

Philadelphia Inquirer

Available this week on DVD:

“The Illusionist”: Full of bittersweet whimsy and gorgeous hand-drawn animated tableaux, this Oscar-nominated gem from Sylvain Chomet (“The Triplets of Belleville”) follows an aging magician as he ekes out a living and runs into an innocent girl who changes his life, and he hers. Inspired by Jacques Tati, and adapted from the French comedy great’s unproduced screenplay. (1:22; PG for thematic elements and smoking) • • • •

“Blue Valentine”: Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are a couple going through the throes of new love, old love and no love at all. There’s a loose, vérité vibe, and times when they root down deep to deliver something resonant and true. But this modern-day kitchen sink drama is ultimately too painful, too labored, to care about. (1:54; R for strong graphic sexual content, language and a beating) • • 1/2

“No Strings Attached”: An affable comedy with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman as friends with benefits. She’d like to keep the arrangement strictly physical, but his emotions keep getting in the way. (1:50; R for sexual content, language and some drug material) • • •

“Justin Bieber: Never Say Never”: One part backstage biography, one part concert film charting the roots and meteoric rise of Justin II, successor to that supernova surnamed Timberlake. (1:45; G) • • •

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