The Prestige (2006)

 

Genre: Drama

Time: 2h 10mins

Director: Christopher Nolan

Quick Summary: After a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890s London engage in a battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit each other.

Even with multiple viewings, this is one film to highly appreciate. 

This was my second time viewing this film, a few years apart so I remember most of the story to this, but it doesn't ruin the twist. Honestly, I think it improves it because then a lot more of the early scenes have much more meaning and bring out a new enjoyment for this. 

The story is incredibly engaging and is told through bouncing back and forwards between the past and present and between two magicians. It does feel a bit broken for a while as you're not actually sure what is happening and when for a while, but it works in a way that isn't frustrating. The longer it goes on, the more you feel the obsession of both these magicians competing to be the best one, both against each other and the whole of London. Honestly, it's really interesting to watch how each other one-ups the other, and then their counter-reaction to that. 

The magic tricks were very impressive as well. As you get to watch them as if you are the audience in the theatre, and the engineering behind them. The duality of it is something I really enjoyed. Honestly, this film feels like an illusion, as some of the twists are as thrilling as a magic trick and you're left wondering how did they that before it's revealed. 

What a selection of a cast though! Christian Bale, Micheal Caine, Hugh Jackman, and Scarlett Johansson all in one film. I don't think I even need to tell you how good the acting was in this. Everyone was on point and brought so much to their characters. Character-wise, they're flawless from the very start. Each one has amazing developments throughout, with protagonists going to antagonists, and somehow we end up feeling sorry for one of the biggest assholes I've seen. The two Magicians are the Ying and yang to each other, one focusing and loving showmanship and the other the technicality behind the magic, and this is what causes a lot of friction between the two for most of this film. 

This film is an absolute rollercoaster and I'm loving it. The atmosphere was thrilling and the music equally haunting. I wouldn't say the cinematography is anything spectacular but a few shots I felt were set up really well, relating to some of the twists later on in the film. A quick note to add is that I loved the small David Bowie cameo in this and took me two watches to realise it was him. 

Well worth multiple watches as it flies by each time. I promise you will love this and will be watching every single moment very closely. 

10/10

" Now you're looking for the secret. But you won't find it because of course, you're not really looking. You don't really want to work it out. You want to be fooled."

"Are you watching closely?"

" No one cares about the man in the box, the man who disappears."