Movie Review: The Prestige

Early last month, my dad and I watched this 2006 thriller directed and written by Christopher Nolan.

Now, I'll come out and say this right off the bat: I'm not much of a fan of the guy.

I don't dislike him by any means. Of the movies he's made that I've watched, I've only quit on one of them, Following. Loved the black-and-white cinematography, couldn't invest in anything else. But the problem I have with a lot of his movies, is that they don't really have something to fully engage me or invest my care in.

I will say, that he is a top-notch cinematographer. I have nothing but respect for the filmmaking shown in his movies. Nolan is a master of the camera and the construction of a film.

But... I've rarely found a reason to invest in his films. He presents characters, but I almost never really find myself truly caring what happens to them in the story told.

The Dark Knight is an incredible action and thriller movie... but it's also preachy as hell with so many of its speeches.

The Dark Knight Rises has some spectacular sequences, but is also one of the most singularly joyless experiences I've ever had in a theater. Ugh.

Dunkirk was a movie with some incredible moments and one of the best portrayals of war ever... but I only ever found myself caring about the stuff with the civilian boat.

Nolan is a kickass director, but his films have always lacked a certain - heart? - to them, that have often left me a bit lukewarm to them.

So, when my dad suggested we try The Prestige, I was doubtful about it. I mainly said yes because I felt guilty about him watching it alone. I thought that it'd be another fantastic cinema experience that'd still leave me disaffected, uninvested in the story told.

Imagine my surprise when it turned out that this story of feuding stage magicians would turn out to be my personal favorite Nolan movie.

Onto the review!

The Prestige is a film about two magicians, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) who have feuded with each other for years. Ever since an act in their apprenticeship that went wrong led to the death of Angier's wife (a more complex knot in a water-tank trick led to her drowning, with Angier blaming Borden), the two have fought. Back and forth, it's been a cycle of them sabotaging the other's act, trying to steal the other's tricks...

It's become an ugly, ugly game of obsession, secrecy, and one-upmanship. As you watch the film, your sympathies waver and shift all the time: at first Angier is the sympathetic one, since he lost his wife. Then he sabotages Borden's bullet catch trick, shooting off two of his fingers. Then Borden sabotages him in return by ruining his birdcage trick... and it only goes further downhill from there.

If I were to sum up what I think The Prestige is about, I'd say it's a film about the dark side of art - of how far you would go for the sake of a secret, of what makes something special. The Prestige is a movie about the dark side of the artist, and of the secrecy, cruelty and obsession that can destroy lives, with consequences far beyond the original people involved.

People suffer for the sake of the magicians' feuds. Angier's friendship with his stage engineer Cutter (Michael Caine); Borden's marriage to his wife Sarah (Rebecca Hall)... for the sake of art, and the need to best the other guy, it gets nastier and nastier.

It's hard to talk about more of this movie's plot. Befitting a movie about magicians, there are twists. And several of them are of the major, change-the-whole-plot kind. It's a credit to Nolan's skill and that of the script, that the film handled them as well as it did.

When the film ends, with Michael Caine's final statement about the nature of a magic trick - the importance of the secret - it's a moment that is stunning, thought-provoking, and absolutely chilling too.

You see, what is the meaning of the title?

What is "The Prestige"?

It refers to the third part of a magic trick. The first part is "the pledge" - where the magician shows you something ordinary.

Then comes "the turn," where they take that ordinary thing, and do something extraordinary.

And the third part of the trick, where the magician brings the thing back - that's "the prestige."

It's the hardest part of the trick.

And, perhaps, the most dangerous, as well.

Now then, to conclude...

I quite enjoyed this movie. It had great performances from all involved.

Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale are in top form for this movie. I can't say too much about the particulars of their performance, for fear of spoiling those who haven't yet seen it, but this was one of those special times when I looked at the actor and thought "they really can act".

Michael Caine was also a delight in his role, as he often is.

Rebecca Hall gives an effective tragic performance, as well. I felt so very sad for her in the end

Scarlett Johansson also has a role, as Angier's later assistant Olivia. She is another great part of the film, also keeping you guessing, and delivering a few surprises too.

And finally, there is David Bowie.

Yes, David Bowie. XD Playing the role of Nikola Tesla. Quite splendidly, too.

So once more, I rather enjoyed The Prestige. Definitely the best Nolan film I've ever seen. Very much recommended!

Comments

[Shadowsnake89]

Okay. This is one I've definitely never heard of. I have to give you credit. Your reviews always make a movie sound exciting and make me want to check it out. The premise alone makes me want to watch this.

Can't wait for your next review.

[Scholarly-Cimmerian]

4823077
Oh, thank you! It really heartens me to see that! I try to do my best with these reviews, so it's very gratifying to find that someone finds my thoughts on these movies interesting and worthwhile.