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Midway Point: Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2009: #2. The Illusionist

I was charmed by Chomet’s work in Triplets of Belleville and I’m even more charmed by the world that Tati created. Mon Oncle is easily in my top 100 films of all time.

Eric Lavallée

Published on July 9, 2009

#2. The Illusionist

Director: Sylvain Chomet
Writer(s): Chomet and the late Jacques Tati
Producers: Bob Last (exec-producer The House of Mirth)
Distributor: Rights Available.

The Gist: This is based on “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.” Themes deal with aging and disillusionment.

Fact: This is based on an unproduced screenplay by the late Jacques Tati.

Why is it on the list?: I was charmed by Chomet’s work in Triplets of Belleville and I’m even more charmed by the world that Tati created. Mon Oncle is easily in my top 100 films of all time.

Release Date/Status?: The over 20 million dollar project should receive a nice competition slot in Venice with Pathe selling world rights in all territories. I expect a 2009 festival showing, but it might not be ready for the general public until 2010 – it will need a well planned campaign.

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Eric Lavallée

Eric Lavallée is the founder, CEO, editor-in-chief, film journalist and critic at IONCINEMA.com (founded in 2000). Eric is a regular at Sundance, Cannes and TIFF. He has a BFA in Film Studies at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. In 2013 he served as a Narrative Competition Jury Member at the SXSW Film Festival. He was an associate producer on Mark Jackson's This Teacher (2018 LA Film Festival, 2018 BFI London). In 2022 he served as a New Flesh Comp for Best First Feature at the 2022 Fantasia Intl. Film Festival. Current top films for 2022 include Tár (Todd Field), All That Breathes (Shaunak Sen), Aftersun (Charlotte Wells).