Neil Burger Movies
A filmmaker whose unyielding obsession with the concept of truth versus illusion resulted in one of the most highly praised independent features of 2002, Neil Burger studied fine arts at Yale University before transitioning from painting to experimental film in the late '80s. In the years that followed, the aspiring filmmaker would develop his screenwriting skills before getting his big break as the director of a series of MTV advertisements created to promote literacy. Following a productive stint with Ridley Scott Associates, it was finally time for Burger to take a crack at directing his first feature film. A remarkable mockumentary detailing the confession of a former Marine who claimed to be the mythical "second gunman" in the Kennedy assassination, Burger's Interview with the Assassin took the spirit of The Blair Witch Project and effectively infused it with a healthy dose of modern conspiracy theory. Of course, after such an auspicious debut, fans and critics were bound to be curious as to what the imaginative director would come up with next. Although his sophomore feature, The Illusionist, seemed to share little in common with his previous effort on the surface, a closer inspection reveals that Interview's primary themes of illusion and reality are still very much in tact in the stylish tale of a turn-of-the-century Vienna magician who uses his powers to unmask the hypocrisy of the aristocracy. With a budget 20 times that of his impressive debut and a trio of talented actors including Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel at his disposal for only his second full-length feature, it appeared as if emerging filmmaker Burger would be using the magic of cinema to explore the unknown for many years to come. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 2011
A man goes on the run when he's targeted for terrorism during a family vacation in this Screen Gems production. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2010
The Illusionist's Neil Burger helms this adaptation of Alan Glynn's novel detailing what happens when a man (Bradley Cooper) stumbles upon a one-of-a-kind smart pill. Hairspray's Leslie Dixon provides the screenplay for the Universal production. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Director Neil Burger's road movie The Lucky Ones stars Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Peña as three Iraq War veterans who take a road trip together. The trio meet on their way home from overseas with Fred Cheaver (Robbins) finishing his service once and for all, while the other two -- Colee Dunn (McAdams) and TK Poole (Peña) -- are about to enjoy 30 days of R and R. A blackout leads to the three renting a car together after their flight is indefinitely delayed, and driving from New York to Cheaver's home in St. Louis. Upon arrival, Cheaver learns that his wife wants a divorce, and his son needs 20,000 dollars in order to attend Stanford. Emotionally shaken, Cheaver tries to drop the other two off at the airport, but they refuse to go until they can help him through his troubles. The two of them, however, are going through their own issues. Poole suffered an injury while on duty that he worries will end his relationship with his girlfriend, and Dunn is trying to deliver a guitar to the parents of her deceased boyfriend, a fellow soldier who died overseas. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, (more)
A supernaturally talented magician attempts to undermine the rigid social structure of turn-of-the-century Vienna by using his powers to win the love of his upper-class, childhood sweetheart in director Neil Burger's cinematic adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steven Millhauser's short story. Though the ill-fated childhood romance between cabinetmaker's son Eisenheim (Edward Norton) and upper-class Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel) eventually resulted in the heartbroken young man leaving Austria to explore the world, his dreams of one day reuniting with the beautiful duchess never faded. Upon returning to Vienna 15 years later as a talented and renowned illusionist, Eisenheim's hopes of a reunion seem dashed when he learns that Sophie is currently engaged to the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). As the tensions between the Eisenheim and Leopold elevate, urbane Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) finds his sympathy toward Eisenheim growing, despite his formal obligations to the powerful prince. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, (more)
The old man who lives across the street, Walter Ohlinger (Raymond J. Barry), invites his neighbor, Ron Kobeleski (Dylan Haggerty), over because he has a secret that he's never told anyone: He claims he was the grassy knoll assassin who shot John F. Kennedy and wants Haggerty to document his confession. He has the bullet casing which he saved and says there is one witness left alive who can prove his story. The two search for the man that hired Ohlinger, but are thwarted by mysterious forces who seemingly wish to keep Ohlinger's story suppressed. Interview With the Assassin is shot almost completely from the perspective of Haggerty's video camera and it ties in a number of well-known Kennedy-assassination-related conspiracy theories, though doesn't mix them all up like Oliver Stone's JFK. ~ Adam Bregman, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Raymond J. Barry, Dylan Haggerty, (more)
