The Prestige Review

The Prestige (2006)

Cast: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlet Johansson.

Based On: Book ‘The Prestige’ By Christopher Priest.

Screenplay By: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan.

Directed By: Christopher Nolan.

The Prestige is a thriller mystery drama film that follows two magicians, Robert Angier (Jackman) and Albert Borden (Bale). When a magician is doing a show, these two are a part of it pretending to be volunteers that know nothing of the trickery to come, with the assistant being Angier’s wife, they tie her up and then she is put into a tank of water to perform a traditional escape trick. However Borden ties the wrong type of knot causing an audience and Angier to have to watch this young lady drown. The hatred and guilt that swims between the two magicians is the heart of the movie as they go to great lengths to find out each other’s secrets. It is Angier that is more obsessed with being the better magician than Borden wanting his tricks, his happiness, his family, his life, the life he feels he should be living but was taken away from him when Borden tied the knot.  Showing you tricks, illusions, the truth and the tragedy of these two men, this story puts you on a stage filled with showmanship and sadness. Each scene has a pledge, then a turn and ends with The Prestige.

 Christopher Nolan is one of the best in my eyes, such an amazing part of the heart that is the film industry wowing us with The Dark Knight (2008; Writer & Director), Inception (2010; Writer, Producer, Director) and Man Of Steel (2013, Producer & Writer). Nolan has a very complex brain, I imagine it’s like a maze filled with many doors. I feel Nolan is a name that when you see on a movie poster or DVD case your expectations are instantly high. I can tell you now, that yet again I was not let down with The Prestige.

The Prestige is based in Old England, in a generation that is still mesmerized by large quantities of electricity, a generation where horses were still pulling rich folk in posh carts. This movie really takes you back in time, as well as out of your mind. You see how dirty streets are, with markets and lanterns and dirt roads, some parts are so dark they are almost beautiful. However I feel it is the different theatres in this movie that show the decade at its best and worse, its richest and poorest and shows which magician is highest in the ladder of magical success. Also you see Angier in America and the few sets that show the country really make you think about the difference between the countries back then, England is portrayed drunker, louder and poorer but that is probably because those are the parts that work best with the movie, it shows the darkness  of Borden in comparison to Angier.

This movie is filmed greatly, with great sets and actors, it all became very authentic. It’s also not filmed over the top, it’s filmed straight and clear which adds more magic to the illusion, because there is no camera tricks. Also there is some action in this and like the filming and sets I feel it’s very realistic, you feel like a part of that life.

The talent in this movie is what drew me in to watch it, I am a great respecter when it comes to Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman is very hard-working and Michael Caine is always a legend in himself. I feel that Bale had the best character, subtly devious, obsessed with his tricks and the cynical honesty is brilliant. Also Bale gave a very convincing performance with his common old English accent. Jackman played Angier very straight-cut, cleaner than Borden all sense of matters, but you watch his obsession to bring down Borden, break him away and his morals. All actors were brilliant, but these two men and the stage are the heart of it, the rest of talent is what keeps it beating.

The parts in this film I fear do not work are; some parts of their general lives are shown too much, with a film filled with twists, turns and scandals you don’t what to be given this thrill, this high and then on certain scenes become tired, slightly bored.

That being said I still have fallen in love with this movie and it can make you question your perspective. You’ll always trying to guess the pledge, you become surprised and good confused by the turn, but it is the prestige, the final piece of the puzzle that will make your jaw drop. This movie is highly enjoyable, very well thought out and kicks The Illusionist off the top shelf. Give it a chance; see if you see what I see. 

Are you watching closely?

My Rating: 7.5/10

VF