The Prestige

The dynamic between Hugh Jackman’s Robert Angier and Christian Bale’s Alfred Borden in The Prestige is a captivating study of obsession and rivalry. Angier, portrayed by Jackman, stands out with his charismatic showmanship and deep-seated need for revenge and recognition. His journey from a grieving husband to a determined magician is both compelling and tragic, driven by the loss of his wife and the desire to surpass Borden. Angier's character is marked by his relentless pursuit of perfection, making sacrifices that reveal the depths of his ambition and dedication to his craft. While Borden, played by Bale, is more methodical and secretive, it's Angier's emotional and passionate quest that often captures the audience's sympathy. Jackman's portrayal brings a poignant depth to Angier, showcasing the vulnerability behind his vengeful facade. Their rivalry is intensely personal, with each man’s actions profoundly affecting the other’s life, but it's Angier's tragic path and ultimate sacrifices that leave a lasting impact, highlighting the cost of obsession and the dark side of ambition.

I heard of "The Prestige" when it came out on DVD, but I didn't know too much about it. Saw some commercials for it here and there, but I wasn't sure if it was something that I had to see right away. It wasn't until I went to a store and saw that this was directed by none other than the brilliant Christopher Nolan (who directed my all-time favorite movie, "Memento"). That's all it took for me to buy the DVD without even really knowing what the movie was about. I didn't care. It had Nolan's name on it, and that's all I needed. I watched it the next day and couldn't believe how great this movie was. Not only that, but I ended up watching it again only a few hours after my first viewing. Unfortunately, there are so many twists and turns in this wild ride that I'll have to be brief in describing what it's about so I don't end up giving away something crucial (yeah, it's one of those where you give away one little thing, and it could possibly ruin the movie for the other person). As simplistic as I can put it the film concerns two magicians, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden. The two were quite the team and worked together splendidly until one night one of their well known tricks goes wrong and ends up costing Angier a loved one. He blames Borden for his loss and becomes obsessed with finding any means to out-show him, learn his secrets and destroy him. I know, this sounds like a typical "thriller," but that's really only a small outline of the movie. I had to keep it short and simple to avoid giving away too much. "The Prestige" works more as a drama/thriller/mystery. The entire theme of the movie is to "watch closely," and there's reason for that. You're not entirely sure what is going on until the very end, and even then you feel like you have to watch it again right away to verify what you've just witnessed. Nolan's great at playing head-games with you, and it's nice to see him dive intos that area of film again. Even though you're always trying to piece together what's going on, none of that takes away the enjoyment of watching these characters and how they interact in the environment around them. The look and feel of the film is very dark, but it looks so gorgeous. The performances from Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine are perfect. Bale never ceases to amaze me in the roles he takes, as he commits himself a hundred percent every time. David Bowie even makes a small appearance in the film, and trust me when I say this, you do not see him as David Bowie on the screen. You buy into his character completely. It must be said, even though this is a PG-13 movie, it gets pretty disturbing and the overall tone of the movie is dark and cold. I wouldn't recommend it for children. The DVD doesn't offer a whole lot of features, which is a shame because I have the suspicion that they will re-release it in a "fully-loaded" edition later on (which I will have to go and buy). "The Prestige" is a total success, and then some. It's one of those movies that you have to watch more than once, and each time you see it (just like with "Memento"), chances are you're going to pick up on something that you didn't see the first time around. If you're looking for something different and unique, I strongly suggest giving this a try. It ranks up there as one of my top favorites of 2006. Nice to see that Christopher Nolan has made another fantastic movie and has proven that he's not just a one-trick pony. The movie may have a lot of twists and turns to keep you interested, but they never take away from the great story and characters. Are you watching closely? -Michael Crane

Christopher Nolan is a director that I have trouble grappling with. I always seem to enjoy his movies in the moment, but upon reflection, his films always seem to lose their praise. This was true for "Interstellar", "The Dark Knight Rises", "Inception", and even "The Dark knight". I'm beginning to think that Nolan is actually just fooling everyone. He delivers so well on the emotion of the experience and the overall story, that audiences seem to overlook the plot holes, the technical sloppiness, and the silliness of his films. "Inception" is a prime example of a movie that seems really good on the surface, but when you think about how much of that film actually makes honest-to-goodness sense, you come up short. Of course, I still really like "Inception", but I would never use that film as an example to say Nolan is a master director; which many people seem to think. So I went through his filmography, trying to find a film that would help me put Nolan into perspective. I stayed away from "Momento", because we all know that it's a classic of high quality, and would not give me much insight into the Nolan of today. And then I found it, "the Prestige". A movie few people saw. bit was critically well received (even by me when I saw it back in 2006). Upon a rewatch, "the Prestige" is a phenomenal movie. From the characters, to the twists, to the unique premise, and most of all to the subtext, "The Prestige" is firing on all cylinders. I think it may be Nolan's best movie outside of "Momento". In fact, upon deep inspection, I couldn't really find any flaws. Obviously the ending requires a suspension of disbelief, but the movie earned that request of me. Going back to "The Prestige" finally helped me see why Nolan is a great director. It isn't his technique or attention to detail. It's his ambition. Nolan is probably the most ambitious director working today. With films like "Inception" and "Interstellar", his ambition exceeds his ability; which is why I can poke so many holes in them. However, the ambition of those films deserves admiration and compassion. The fact that Nolan is trying to give you something that no other director is brave enough to attempt, is sufficient grounds to be lenient in your review of his films. So though I don't think Nolan is a master at the craft of directing, I think he deserves a place amongst the greats as a visionary.

The Prestige is an interesting film, buoyed more by the stars than the script. I really enjoyed it; have viewed it several times, but I come away from the movie feeling like I've experienced a slight of hand, just like the magic they perform. The wonderful, enduring Michael Caine - always a favourite who could lure me into watching him read a phone book -- gives a strong performance, as usual, as the magical engineer behind Hugh Jackman's Rufus Angier. Jackman's beautiful, wonderful, so the movie's success rest heavily on his performance, and he does well in the lead. Christian Bale as his rival is rather flat, but that could be the script more than his acting as Alfred Borden (but then, I always think this about his performances!). And the White Lord Ziggy, David Bowie, puts in a guest spot that is interesting, but again a bit of waste of his talent. Even a cameo from Daniel Davis. The movie centres around Jackman's Angier and Bale's Border. Angier is the master showman. He has the beauty and grace to set up a trick, which is more than half of it's success. Border is more the thinking man's magician. He can figure out his own tricks, but is lousy at presenting them, until rivalry pushes both men into obsession. They were once friends, but after the death of Jackman's wife in the water tank trick, they became enemies, each trying to out do the other, and taking it way past a rivalry, unto nothing else really matters to them. They lose friends, lovers, and ultimately rush to destruction - of themselves and each other. Very interesting film, one worth watching again. But I still fill like the whole film is one big trick, just like the magic they perform. Misdirection - great cast, beautifully filmed, but covering up what they don't want you too see, that it's a bit more flash than substance.

This is an amazing film. I had never heard of it before, but I read about it in an article about the ten best movies with twist endings and had to see what that was all about. It was a twist within a twist within a twist! Not only is the plot incredible, but the acting, the sets, the direction, the score, the whole package is first class. I was pleased to see that I didn't have to worry about awful language or overt sex scenes either. I'll have to watch it again to see what I missed the first time. It's that good. Why hadn't I heard of this one before???

The best performance from David Bowie since the Labyrinth! RIP........, Lolz nah 🤣 NOTHING BEATS BOWIE IN LABYRINTH, Christian Bale AND Hugh Jackman are power houses in this one and it hits the first time that you came back for the second 3rd and soon on because the story is impeccable 👌 grade AAA 👍 worth the money to buy/rent! Did you think I would spoil the story? Lolz

Great movie

Foreword: this review will NOT reveal anything about the plot in this film and will only serve to objectively review the quality of the film and not serve as a repeat of the description of this movie. This is an actual review, not a synopsis. The Prestige is yet another brilliant masterpiece directed by Christopher Nolan. Do not be put off by the fact that it's a magician movie. This is high caliber entertainment with mega stars like Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Scarlett Johansson. DIRECTION/PACE This is definitely a Nolan film. The direction and pace of the movie is best in the business. There is never a point in the movie where it lulls or feels dull. Each scene follows in a way that is logical and perfectly serves to deliver the action and plot progression. CINEMATOGRAPHY The cinematography in "The Prestige" is extraordinarily good. Every shot serves as a perfect frame for capturing the emotions of the actors and their interactions with one another. Often times I forgot that I wasn't actually in the room with the magicians, experiencing the wonders for myself. ACTING The onscreen chemistry between the characters makes every interaction feel real. Christian Bale fits his character extraordinarily well - a very determined magician willing to sacrifice aspects of his life to stake his claim in the world of magic. Hugh Jackman assumes the antagonistic, competitive magician which he pulls off well. The tension and rivalry between these two character come across as genuine as can be. Michael Caine, per usual, acts as the "helper" character who assists one of the main characters in whatever goal they are trying to achieve (see: Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy). Scarlett Johansson in my opinion is less memorable than the aforementioned characters, but her performance is as expected. David Bowie's quirky role was just brilliant. He was cast nearly perfectly for the role he plays. WRITING This is the true magic of the movie. The story telling in "The Prestige" is far and above any magician movie that you have ever watched. The various plot devices used are never arbitrary or uninteresting. There is a continual presence of intrigue and anticipation for the unveiling of magic tricks that are seemingly impossible to conceive how they work. The foreshadowing and dichotomy built between the two main characters played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale is nothing short of greatness. EDITING Scene transitions flow naturally and any elements of CGI in the movie that may or may not exist are simply untraceable. As a "triple A" movie title, I expect nothing less in "The Prestige"! COSTUME DESIGN All costumes in "The Prestige" look period correct and appropriate for a film that takes place in the 19th century. The beauty of the costume design in "The Prestige" is that everything feels so natural. The dress in the film is more like outfits than costumes, they seem that real. SET DESIGN All the same sentiments in the costume section apply here as well. MUSICAL SCORE/SOUNDTRACK Music in the movie always lends to set the mood of each scene. Often times its ominous or awe-inspiring. One of the drawbacks of Nolan's films is there is not so much a musical score as it is just background noise. Overall, "The Prestige" is an absolute must watch. This is Christopher Nolan et. al at their best.