The Prestige (2006)
Dir. Christopher Nolan
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, David Bowie, Andy Serkiss, Piper Perabo...
The Prestige is a film about magic. It's a magic film. Can I leave it at that?
The movie starts with Caine's sonorous voice uttering, in a low whisper, 'Watch closely.' The audience physically leans forward in their seats in obedience. However, from this point onwards, it is virtually impossible to stay on top of what happens. At any rate, we are always a few steps behind. The story is adapted from a complex novel of the same name by Christopher Priest. Not having read the book, I can't say how closely it adheres to it's inspiration, but it is a fascinating plot of twists, revelations and secrecies.
The film's structure (with echoes of Nolan's backwards told Memento) is handily outlined by Caine's character, Cutter, in the film's opening sequence. Like a magic trick, this movie will show it's audience 'The Pledge' - something ordinary; 'The Turn' - the ordinary thing made extraordinary; and finally 'The Prestige' - something shocking that you've never seen before. That is exactly what we get.
The story seems to be simple enough; In Victorian London, two magicians who were once friends become the most terrible rivals. Robert Angier (Jackman) is a gifted showman from America and Alfred Borden (Bale - complete with wonderfully warm yet dark Cockney accent) is a natural and mysterious magician with little stage presence to boast of. After a tragic and unexplainable accident involving an assitant, the two men go separate ways and the rivalry begins. Angiers, jealous of Borden's extraordinary skill, sets out to uncover the secret behind his most famous trick, 'The Transporter Man.' Theatrical manager, Cutter (Caine), who mentored both magicians, sees promise in Angier's performance and sides with him. This only serves to make Bale's character more secretive and tormented, rarely allowing us a glimpse into his life off-stage. The strory then spirals out of control through flashbacks within flashbacks, glimpses into secret diaries and an intense rivalry. If I criticise anything, it would be that the film lasts just long enough for the viewer to begin to tie up the threads of the mystery. But however close you come to working it out, the climax - the prestige - will still wow.
Rebecca Hall is brilliant as Borden's loving and tormented wife, Sarah. Look out for her in the future. Scarlet Johansson, despite a sometimes too laboured cockney accent, is fabulously glamorous as a magician's assistant and heart-breaker. Bowie is, of course, an absolute legend in his role as real life scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla and Andy Serkiss is very un-Gollum-like as Tesla's weasley assitant, Alley. It's an all round brilliant cast, but it is Bale who stands out. He really is fantastic in this dark and complex film, and the climactic ending reveals the depth of his character, making his performance even more excellent.
My rating: **** 4/5 stars
Recommendation: Rent it. Watch it. Appreciate it.
1 comment:
I totally agree with this, buddy. It was just dark enough to keep you captured instead of scaring you off, and never got boring once. The whole thing was very complimented by being an era-specific piece too.
Good review, homeslice!
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