The Prestige
Award-winning actors Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson star in THE PRESTIGE, the twisting, turning story that, like all great magic tricks, stays with you. Two young, passionate magicians, Robert Angier (Jackman), a charismatic showman, and Alfred Borden (Bale), a gifted illusionist, are friends and partners until one fateful night when their biggest trick goes terribly wrong. Now the bitterest of enemies, they will stop at nothing to learn each other's secrets. As their rivalry escalates into a total obsession full of deceit and sabotage, they risk everything to become the greatest magician of all time. But nothing is as it seems, so watch closely. And be prepared to watch it again and again.
The Prestige attempts a hat trick by combining a ridiculously good-looking cast, a highly regarded new director, and more than one sleight of hand. Does it pull it off? Sort of. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians who were once friends before an on-stage tragedy drove a wedge between them. While Bale's Alfred Borden is a more skilled illusionist, Jackman's Rufus Angier is the better showman; much of the film's interesting first half is their attempts to sabotage--and simultaneously, top--each other's tricks. Even with the help of a prop inventor (Michael Caine) and a comely assistant (Scarlett Johansson), Angier can't match Borden's ultimate illusion: The Transporting Man. Angier's obsession with learning Borden's trick leads him to an encounter with an eccentric inventor (David Bowie) in a second half that gets bogged down in plot loops and theatrics. Director Christopher Nolan, reuniting with his Batman Begins star Bale, demonstrates the same dark touch that hued that film, but some plot elements--without giving anything away--seem out of place with the rest of the movie. It's better to sit back and let the sometimes-clunky turns steer themselves than try to draw back the black curtain. That said, The Prestige still manages to entertain long after the magician has left the stage--a feat in itself. --Ellen A. Kim
The Prestige Accessories
 The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
Babel
The Departed (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Deja Vu
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
The Good Shepherd (Widescreen Edition)
Flags of Our Fathers (Widescreen Edition)
Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)
The Prestige Reviews
I saw "The Prestige" once in the theater, though I would have gladly attended another screening or two, had I the opportunity to do so. The main menu features a spinning picture that frames one of four sets of images based on the most prominent magic tricks in the film; the displayed picture can be selected from a set of icons beneath the menu options. This DVD's menu design - typeface, colors, animation, etc. The disc's picture gallery contains images of photos shot on set during and between takes, many of which focus on the production's lavish costumes and sets. As I expected, the picture is impeccable; anything less would have been an offensive treatment of Wally Pfister's beautiful photography. It's quite difficult to tweak EQ in order to facilitate this mix. Other selections include publicity shots and the painted advertisement posters seen in the movie. There's not much that I can type about the finest accomplishment of Christoper Nolan's filmmaking career that hasn't been stated before.
Nolan opted not to record a commentary track for "The Prestige," concerned that such a feature might diminish the mystique of the proceedings. The French and Spanish dubbed dialogue tracks are quite good, as are the English, French and Spanish subtitles. Instead, a nineteen-minute documentary featurette is included here, consisting of interviews with the principal cast and crew in addition to quite a lot of behind-the-scenes footage. The theatrical soundtrack irked me for the same reasons that this disc's 5.1 Dolby Digital track does: certain sound effects and swells in passages of the score are deafeningly loud, while some of the narrative dialogue is nearly inaudible. It wouldn't be unfair for the Nolans to abandon their non-linear plot structure at this point; they exploited the concept so thoroughly here in conjunction with numerous of interrelated visual metaphors in order to fully explore a variety of Victorian themes: the thrill of technology-driven entrepreneurship during the onset of modernity, science as magic explained and the nature of dualistic identity, among others. - assumes a distinctly Victorian style.
There are so many scenes that appear to mean one thing but really mean something else that you need to watch it again. But the story is so engrossing. In fact, I gave up trying to predict the outcome, and it's a good thing I did because I never would have guessed how it ended. If you've missed it, go out and see it today. Will Robert learn the secret of the transported man.
That's how Robert knows when Alfred premiers his most phenomenal trick, the transported man. This isn't my normal light film. It is more a character study of the two men than anything else. In fact, it is very dark at times. 100 years ago, there were two fledgling magicians. In this trick, Alfred moves from one box to another across the stage in one second flat.
Frankly, that summary does the movie an injustice. I can't single anyone out, that's how good it is. Robert becomes obsessed with learning how his rival does the trick, an obsession he takes to unhealthy levels. What lengths will he go to attempting to get the secret. Over the years, they keep tabs on each other and try to hurt each other.
I am sorry I am just now watching this excellent film. And this is definitely a movie to own.
But one night things turn deadly, leaving Robert a widower and breaking apart the two men. I was lost in the world unsure who to root for to win.
I can't recommend this film highly enough. Who is the ultimate magician.
Both Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are the plants in an audience who help a magician with his final act. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks, yet once I got the characters established in my mind, it was very easy to follow.
The acting from every single member of the cast is great.
I want to go into greater detail about the differences, but I'm afraid I'd spoil a great read for whomever takes my advice and reads the book. First off, to all who enjoyed Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige", do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Christopher Priest's novel by the same name. The majority of the book and most of the content of the film comes from the personal diary of Angier and retellings by Angier's descendent. The lovely Scarlett Johansson also delivers one of the finest performances of her young career. The book goes into great and fascinating detail about the pasts of the two main characters, which was, in my opinion, a major omission from the film. As you might imagine, the film is much different.
Michael Caine's supporting role as Angier's ingenieur of allusions is a charming and vital, as the opening and closing narration are provided by his character. I won't summarize the plot of the film, as that's already been done thoroughly by past reviewers, but I will comment on the differences between the book and the film. Bale is terrific as always as Alfred Borden, and Jackman delivers what I consider to be his finest performance as the obsessive, vindictive Robert Angier. That book served as the basis for this film.
In the book, the rivalry between Borden and Angier begins not with the accidental death of Angier's wife, but with Borden sabotaging a seance of Angier's at a private residence. If you were fascinated by the film, I highly recommend that you delve into the book, which provides much greater insight into the characters. The book begins with a journalist venturing to the home of a descendent of Angier for an interview. This is truly one of my favorite films.
Overall, the film is terrific.
All the actors are at their best, here. And, the film holds a bit of a surprise at the end, although cynical folks will say they saw it coming. It's easy to say, after one has viewed the film, that it was all so obvious.but, it wasn't all so obvious on the first viewing. Repeated viewings do yield some interesting gems, even when one knows what happens at the end. If you truly want to be entertained, and you appreciate magic (as in: professional stage magic and magicians) you will adore this film.
The cast is outstanding. The plot is very imaginative. One of the most entertaining movies ever. If you're not entertained by it, check for a pulse. Superbly done film from beginning to end. The sets, costumes, dialogue and cimematography are all top drawer. David Bowie is unrecognizeable. Keeps you guessing right up to the final frame.
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