The Prestige contains an interesting if not totally effective concept: it portrays two dueling magicians, a battle between two men for the ultimate supremacy, or prestige, over the other, at the turn of the century.
Those two musicians are the aristocrat magicians, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and the lower class Alfred Borden (Christian Bale). The two fast become the most competitive magicians in England. Angier is blaming Borden for the death of his wife, while Borden is happily married and has a daughter. The film is told from the perspectives of both men, and a lot of the film is in flashback. Michael Caine plays John Cutter, the stage engineer for Angier. Meanwhile, Borden comes up with a very impressive illusion that stuns both the audience and Angier. As a result, Angier and Cutter go to any lengths possible to find Borden’s secret, with Angier travelling all the way to Colorado Springs in America to buy a new device that could revolutionize the illusion stage.
The Prestige is a very complex movie that demands your attention. I might even go as far to recommend you watch the movie more than once.
The Prestige isn’t exactly a very likeable film. It’s dark, haunting, innovative and quite visionary. It’s a movie that leaves you thinking after the credits roll. Maybe why I sort of liked it nevertheless is because I never really felt like I was watching a movie. I was immersed between these two dueling magicians battling it out for the prestige over the other.
It’s directed by the gifted director Christopher Nolan, who a year before helmed Batman Begins, a remake of the Batman film series. As far as direction goes, this isn’t Nolan’s best work, nor is this particularly the blockbuster, must see picture of the year
The Prestige is nevertheless well-acted, and mostly, well-done. It’s an intricate movie that will only please some people. That being said, the Prestige isn’t exactly the most likeable film around, nor the most enjoyable, and nor are the characters good role models. Nevertheless, the cinematography of the movie is pretty good, and it’s an accurate depiction of a magician’s life.
From the beginning of it to the end, we are constantly waiting for the final unraveling of the plot, where all of the plot points are pieced together and revealed. I won’t release any spoilers, but the Prestige nevertheless keeps you thinking long after the credits roll.
If you want my honest opinion, watch the Prestige if you have to. If you like a complex, smart, intricate movie, then you’ll like it, cause this is a good movie on those terms. If you don’t like chose kinds of movies, look elsewhere.
*** ½/5
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