For once, as far as reviewing a movie goes, with The Prestige I’m kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. It seems that if I wanted to discuss the film, I would have to unintentionally ‘spoil’ the major and minor twists and turns. There’s not a lot of legroom to work with here. There is one trick I will give away: the trailer suggests that Christian Bale’s Alfred Borden will be the magician gone wrong. In truth, it turns out to be Robert Angier, the character played by Hugh Jackman. Another less surprising trick is helmer Christopher Nolan’s directing style which keeps the audience on their toes. Like Memento and Batman Begins, The Prestige opens up in a non-linear format. While this may be jarring at times, and there were moments where I asked myself “Where are the characters now?’

The film starts off with the death of Angier, and the imprisonment of Borden. There was a strong rivarly between the two Victorian era magicians, which stemmed from a mutual partnership that ended due to Angier blaming Bordon for an accident that could have been avoided. The two will create illusions that will win the hearts of women and the envy of audiences. They will constantly sabotage one other, steal ideas, and put themselves and others in harm’s way. Borden’s magic secrets are so well hidden, he doesn’t even tell his wife how he does them, let alone his mistress. Borden, it seems, is the better magician, and it eats away at Angier. Then, Angier seeks out a man named Tesla, a mysterious inventor who can help Angier perform real magic. Tesla in his hideaway in the States which resembles Frankenstein’s castle. But this sort of “real” magic has a price, Tesla warns Angier. “It’s about getting one’s hands dirty” in the name of obsession, and we are far past squashing doves in collapsing death cages. And that’s all I can really say, because I’ve said enough already in regards to the story.

Both Jackman and Bale do wonderful work and play off each other very well. Both actors want to steal scenes from the other, just as their characters do, and it does alternate. David Bowie’s supporting role is not as creepy or oddball as I normally would have expected. Maybe that makes the part more oddball, I’m not sure. Michael Caine is fine, but the only misfire in the film is Scarlett Johannsen, who plays Angier’s lovely assisstant. It’s not that she’s bad – she’s not. The problem there is the part she plays could have been played by anyone. She pulls a disappearing trick of her own by the third act. She’s barely in the film enough to make any special impact.

The twists and surprises don’t come out from left field, which is why Nolan does this sort of film well. He plays fair, and in this film, is the real prestige.

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The Prestige

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johannsen, Michael Caine, and David Bowie