The Prestige (2006)

VERDICT:
8/10 Angry Nerds

One more fantastic notch to be added onto Chris Nolan’s belt.

The Prestige is about two magicians in 19th Century England whose friendship turns into a lifelong rivalry as they go to any and all lengths in order to one-up each other on their quest to create the ultimate illusion, something that would make that David Blaine weirdo run for the hills with his tail between his legs.

Who knew people took magic so seriously?

So for some reason, this movie came out at the same time as The Illusionist – also about a magician doing his thing in 19th Century England – and I find that people constantly mistake the two. But make no mistake folks, The Prestige is the one to see.

It’s directed by Christopher Nolan, and, really, what else is there to say. He’s one of the best at what he does and it’s been crystal for a while now that he’s got this whole storytelling thing down to a science. And while the look and feel of this movie is very sleek and stylish in keeping with Nolan’s prior and future efforts, the most impressive thing about this movie is the way in which he structures it.

And on that note, here’s the story behind the title…

Actually, rather than paraphrase it myself and butcher it like I know I will, I’ll let Michael Caine do the talking. Take it away, Mike.

“Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called ‘The Pledge’. The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course… it probably isn’t. The second act is called ‘The Turn’. The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. 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 know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn’t clap yet. Because making something disappear isn’t enough; you have to bring it back. That’s why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call ‘The Prestige’.”

Thanks, Mike. Well put.

The reason I bring this up because Nolan structures the plot as though it were a magic trick. He starts off by presenting the audience with ordinary characters in an otherwise ordinary situation, develops them and their trade into extraordinary subjects, and then brings it all full circle with the final “Prestige” at the end. Can’t really say more than that, but it’s a thing of beauty. Man, it’s gotta be tough as all hell to write a script like this, even an adapted script, but Chris Nolan and his brother Jonathan pull it off like it’s no big thing. I don’t know how they do it, but keep it up, guys.

The acting here is also really solid. Christian Bale plays the closest thing we have to a “good” magician and Hugh Jackman takes on the closest thing we have to an “evil” magician. The reason I say this is because they’re both pretty mean bastards at one point or another and even though their roles seem to become much more defined by the story’s close, I don’t think these two guys have too many friends. But still, this is Patrick Bateman and Wolverine we’re talking about here. Good acting as usual on their behalves.

And my man Michael Caine plays the mentor/voice of reason to our two favorite magicians as their hobby develops into obsession. Since Michael Caine is freakin’ great and is probably up there as one of my all-time favorite actors, I’ll just say that he he kicks ass as usual and leave it at that.

Scarlett Johansson‘s also in it as Jackman’s assistant. She’s fine.

Oh, and David Bowie‘s in it too as Nikolai Tesla. Not much of an actor, but then again, David Bowie rules.

The point is, The Prestige is an absolutely wild movie that will amaze you the first time around and then make you want to watch it all over again right after. The characters can be a little too cold for their own good at times, but hey, we’re talking about 19th Century magic here, this shit is no joke. It’s Chris Nolan, it’s an all-star cast, it’s a totally boss script, and hats off to you if you figure it all out before the end comes around, because I sure as hell didn’t.

Isn’t more fun to just be surprised anyway? I think so.