Review of The Prestige (2006) by Nichole H — 06 Apr 2013

I don't think Christopher Nolan can ever make a film that isn't amazing. Just wow.

The Prestige is based on a 1995 book of the same name by Christopher Priest. The film is about two men, Robert Angier (Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Bale), who are both magicians in late 19th century London. In the beginning of the film, they are both apprentices working under John Cutter (Caine), but become rivals after a tragic accident. The film revolves around both Angier and Borden constantly trying to get the upper hand, and the plot twist at the end leaves you thinking for a while.

I re-watched this film today, because I felt that I didn't really absorb it the first time I saw it, and I don't regret it at all. The acting was top notch, and Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale were both totally perfect for their roles. I look back at it now and I can't imagine anyone else making the movie as perfect as they both did. Michael Caine, as seen in the Batman trilogy, once again plays out a great fatherly figure, and adds in the heart of the film.

I liked seeing the contrasts between Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall's characters, as Scarlett's character understood the concept of magic and the importance behind it whereas Rebecca did not understand nor care for it. This foil ties in perfectly to Christian Bale's character, and I loved that.

The score was haunting and fit in perfectly with the film, as it really sets you up with the tone of what it is going to be like. Christopher Nolan knows how to revive franchises and ideas and make them look amazing, as can be seem with the Dark Knight trilogy. After this film, performing magic does not seem as cheesy as it was before to me, as Nolan cast a totally different and maybe even grim light on it with this film.

Now, on to ratings. Christopher Nolan has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat for the duration of the movie, and I was absorbed through and through. That is why I would like to give this film 5 stars, as the twists and turns kept me entertained, and most important of all, thinking, something that this movie pulls off flawlessly.