It’s been a while since I have written a movie review, in fact I think the last one I did was for Crank back in September, and so it is only fitting that my first review in months should be of a real humdinger of a movie. The Prestige, based on a book of the same name by Christopher Priest, tells the story of two 19th century stage illusionists, consummate performer Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and creative genius Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), who start out as friendly rivals but become bitter enemies when a trick goes tragically wrong, resulting in the death of Augier’s wife in the opening minutes of the film. What follows is a tale of obsession as each man tries to out do and ultimately destroy the other. But more important that this they are desperate to learn the secrets behind the others tricks and it is this, even more than the growing rivalry, that will be the down fall of them both.

It’s very hard to review this film without giving anything away. The whole film, like the tricks it portrays, is all about misdirection, getting you to believe one thing while something else is going on right before your eyes. At the end of the movie when all the twists and turns are finally revealed it is very easy to look back at the film and see that, in fact, everything had been leading in that direction all along. The majority of the film is told in flash back using the very clever device of the two main character’s diaries. At different points in the film each of the rivals gets their hands on the diary of the other and uses them in an attempt to gain the others secrets. The film follows each man’s reading of these diaries and gives them a better insight into the minds of their enemies. But again all is not as it seems and these simple books provide some of the biggest twists in the tale.

As the movie progresses you discover that Borden has created a trick, The Transported Man, that leaves his audiences stunned and Angier unable to discover how he pulls it off. In the trick he apparently moves from one cabinet to another in the blink of an eye. Desperate to out do his rival Angier creates his own version of the trick, The New Transported Man, that, at least in the eyes of his audience, seems to far out do the original. But this is not enough for Angier who knows that his version is just a trick while Borden’s seems like genuine magic. Growing increasingly obsessed Angier tracks down acclaimed physicist Nikola Tesla, played by David Bowie but looking not that unlike Sam Neill, who promises to build him a machine that will allow him to do the trick for real. After this the character’s descend into violence, murder, suicide and madness as the film races to a twisted, incredibly clever, if slightly drawn out, ending.

I highly recommend going to see this movie. It has one of the most intelligent stories I have seen in a long time that will keep you guessing to the end but won’t leave you feeling let down when the secrets are finally revealed. In Jackman and Bale the film has two very strong leads who are backed up by an excellent supporting cast. Michael Caine is excellent as Cutter, the man behind Angier’s illusions, and the stunning Scarlett Johansson is equally good as magicians assistant Olivia who falls in love with both men. Personally I thought that Rebecca Hall‘s performance as Borden’s wife Sarah was particularly good and I really felt for her as she watched her marriage fall apart. Added to all that it is directed by Christopher Nolan, the guy behind the excellent Batman Begins also staring Christian Bale and Michael Caine, who once again proves he can bring real darkness to the screen when needed. A real must of all you hardened cinema goers like me.

Next up is Daniel Craig in the excellent looking Casino Royale. I have my ticket booked for Thursday and I can hardly wait. Expect a review!!!

Thanks

Andrew

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 14th, 2006 @ 20:24

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