The Prestige
The Prestige is a "magic trick" transformed to theatrical form. The closest film of which it could be compared to is "The Sixth Sense", however it isn't a "twist". The entire film is created exactly as a magic trick is created. There is misdirection, "Hey look over here" while in fact the truth is much different. Some may say that the film failed in this effect, and even though I did "figure it" out before the film was about half way through....seeing the director Nolan pull it off, was still worth the effort.
The film stars Christian Bale an aspiring illusionist with tricks to spare, but hardly enough charisma to sustain an audience's attention. Meanwhile, his colleague, Hugh Jackman, has plenty of stage presence, but doesn't take enough risks to make it as a prime time magician. The two quickly become embroiled in a battle of wills for domination of London's stages. To give more plot wouldn't do the movie justice, so at that I shall leave it.
The most astonishing magic trick of them all was not even realized by me, until after beginning to write the review. It involves the role of Nickola Tesla, a scientist consumed with his rival, Thomas Edison. The reason why I suggests that this is the most astonishing trick, is the fact that it was played by David Bowie, yeah the singer/Labyrinth guy. I so didn't see it!@!@ I crapped myself later when I noticed it.
I ultimately enjoyed the movie, and yet will not give it a 10 rating. The only reason why it does not get this rating is that the diary reading got to me...not in a oh my god, i'm showing someone read a diary....but because the audio was very difficult to interpret. In fact, for part of the film a group of friends and I agreed to turn on subtitles just so we could tell what the fuck they were saying....I don't even think we actually ever took them off...oh well.
Final Thoughts: 9/10
No matter what anyone says about this film, it still shows that Chris Nolan (the director) is one of the most brilliant directors in Hollywood. It shows him returning to more intimate filmmaking after helming Batman Begins, the director manages to make this complex story as easily understandable and effective as he made the outwardly straightforward comic book adaptation dense and sophisticated. But that may be the filmmaker's greatest trick: to make the simple ones look complicated and the complicated ones look simple. Because any truly great performance is almost as much showmanship as it is actual talent, and Nolan possesses both in spades -- which means that as brilliant as it is, The Prestige is not "just" a convincing trick perpetrated on a willing audience. Rather, it's a sign that more, bigger and better ones are sure to come.
Labels: 9/10, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, The Prestige
