Lee Eisenberg John Turturro directed this focus on a group of people involved in the production of a play at the turn of the last century. Turturro himself stars as the playwright who submits a new play. Although the theater rejects it, this initiates a series of events in which the various other people play a role. One might interpret "Illuminata" as a look at the intersections of art and life. The relationship between all these different characters - the playwright, his girlfriend, the theater owner, her husband, the critic, and the various actors and actresses - reflects our daily lives.One thing that did confuse me about the movie is the setting. I read that it's set in New York, but all the outdoor scenes look more like northern Italy, and most of the characters do have Italian names. No matter, I found it to be a well done movie. To be certain, there's a scene with John Turturro and Susan Sarandon that would make any guy want to be Susan Sarandon's boy toy.Check it out.

blanche-2 Illuminata is not to everyone's taste, though it's a beautiful film to look at with a terrific cast who do a great job. It has a rather loose construction, as it concerns the on-stage and offstage antics of actors, as well as a writer, a theater owner, and a critic. The stars are John Turturro, who directed it, Katherine Borowitz, Susan Sarandon, Beverly D'Angelo, Rufus Sewell, Aida Turturro, Christopher Walken, Ben Gazzara, and Bill Irwin.Illuminata takes place in the early part of the century. The film begins with Tuccio (Turturro) and Borowitz (Rachel) rehearsing - though at first it's not clear that they are - and that really sets up the rest of the film. These people are in love and act in love on and off stage all the time, and often, you're not really sure if they're saying lines or are being sincere. "I act all the time," Celimine (Sarandon) says. "I act when I ask for more bread at a restaurant, I act when I tell my mother I love her." That's part of the fun. The actors invest their lives with the same histrionics, passion, and illusion/delusion that they do their stage roles. When Sarandon sees a young actress, she says, "See, that's the way I will look in about ten years. I'm getting to the point where I can play ingénues." She was about 50 at the time.Illuminata is set at the turn of the century. Tuccio is rehearsing his new play, Illuminata, at a theater owned by Astergourd (D'Angelo), but she hasn't committed to putting it on yet. Tonight it's the play version of Cavalleria Rusticana. One of the lead actors, Dominique (Sewell) has been relegated to just being a presence on stage, and he's very unhappy about it. Earlier we see Marta (Aida Turturro) practicing her scream. The critic, Bevelaqua (Walken) has come to see it. When the Turridu collapses, Tuccio announces that his play will be presented the next evening.The actors jump in and out of bed and go through one crisis or seduction or rejection after another. All the characters are vividly portrayed, but Christopher Walken as the outrageous critic Bevelaqua stands out. He goes through a list of all the kinds of plays he hates - I don't think he missed one kind.Truly glorious looking (and you can't go wrong looking at Rufus Sewell) with some lovely prose and a mood fitting for the time period and the type of play Illuminata is. But as I say, it's not for everyone.

barberoux An entertaining movie filled with fun acting but many must be accused of overacting. I'm not sure of the significance of the wandering plot and I'm sure that many theatre allusions went over my head. The puppets were really strange and spellbinding. They alone are worth seeing. I will watch for John Turturro movies in the future based on his performance as actor and director in this movie. A good, not great, movie for those who like engaging dialog.

peacham Its very hard to describe this film. As far as backstage films go its not as emotionally stirring as The Dresser or as honestly funny as Noises Off, but there is a gentle humanity to the bergman like humor of the play. Unless you are in theatre,or even if you are, it demand complete attention to follow the film,but as you do,the more you like it.The direction of Mr. Turturro is splendid and he evokes some great performances from some wonderful actors. The late Donal McCann is wonderful in his comic role of the theatre owner's husband,It is very rare to see this fine actor doing comedy and He is one of the film's hifgh ponts,as is Christopher Walken as an Oscar Wilde like critic,Bill Irwin is also in fine form as the reluctant object of his affection. Turturro himself is wonderful in the key role of the playwright and its good to see Ben Gazzara on the big screen again. The film is far from perfect,it drags at times and there are momentsthat leave you saying, "what just happened?" but for overall effect its a good effort with a pleasing,if not brilliant ,product.