Momentum ****

THE second of a pair of recent features on prestidigitation (ooh, lovely word for a Friday...), The Illusionist is the less ostentatious (aah, and there's another!) sibling of The Prestige.

Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti are our big names in this one, the former playing the title role of Eisenheim, a Viennese magician who has a thing for royally betrothed totty. The latter is the chief of police, sent by the Prince to discredit the man who has an eye on his fiancee.

Both men are excellent, particularly Giamatti as Inspector Uhl, a man torn between his job and admiration for Eisenheim.

The twist won't surprise the reasonably educated but it's a comfy journey getting there.