it partly bad luck for illuminata that it come out after shakespeare in love a it deal with virtually the same theme of life a art and art a life and the magic of the theatre and the same archetypal foible of theater folk and but a whole lot more ponderously . there be scene that come alive and a a play develop and get reinterpret by a writer life and but there a whole lot of orson welles ish ego in this produce by or direct by or lead act by john torturro a a vehicle for his wife katharine borowitz ( with an adorable cameo by their son ) . each actor get his or her moment literally in the spotlight and but there so many masque or set piece that seem like 19th century parlor game . bill irwin talk . susan sarandon get to be a diva . christopher walken get to be a different kind of villain a gay critic . the woman have to disrobe unnecessarily because this be an art film . the art and set direction be marvelous and though quite dark . this should get an award a the best use of a jersey city theater a a set ever in a movie . ( originally write 8/21/99 ) .