Review of The Prestige (2006) by Barney O — 21 Jul 2017

WHAT I LIKED: As far as I'm concerned, Christopher Nolan's 'The Prestige' really is one of the most ambitious and profound films of the twenty-first century. I mean honestly let's just consider for a moment what this movie does - for a start it's in many ways a film literally about itself; a paradox of narratives that weave seamlessly and beautifully and allow Nolan to not only discuss his themes in front of the audience, but literally involve them in the deception and intrigue he's talking about. It's a magic trick of its own making, and the way it aims to fool and encourage the audience into the ideas brings an incredible sense leaving the theatre - the feeling that something integral has been proved about your very perception and interpretations of not only what you've just witnessed, but also perhaps your entire life.

This truly incredible magical trickery is only possible though (in the words of the film itself in fact) if there's a show to distract the audience from their own willing ignorance, and on that front Nolan amazingly delivers what is probably his most immersive character experience of all (in part thanks to his incredible lead actors) that not only brings another layer of brilliance to the whole experience, but also serves to prove that Nolan is completely bang-on about what he's saying - we don't really want to know the truth after all.

As a result of all this, The Prestige is one of the few films that literally lays out its stance on its ideas and actually succeeds, as not only does it do so completely in the shadow of your absorption; it also genuinely proves everything to you by the end. You've been completely fooled, and the fact it's so engaging and deceptive means that even after countless re-watches, Nolan is proved so right, and equally proved as the directorial king of this generation.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Nolan is right. Once you fully know the secret, even though you want to be fooled, the final Prestige can lose some of its first gut-punching impact.

VERDICT: 'The Prestige' is a two-hour magic trick? with an awful lot to tell and an equal amount to engage. Christopher Nolan's best film is pure, brilliant genius, and it will always be one if my all-time favourites.