"Are you watching closely?"

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 2011)

Set In the 19th century, this film tells the tale of three friends. Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), his wife Julia and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are assistants to a magician. When a water tank trick goes horribly wrong, Robert and Alfred become bitter rivals in the magic industry, trying anything to ruin each others illusions.
With one of the best cast line ups in recent years, there's not much chance of losing interest in the stories' characters. I can't single out any one performance because they really do each have their own evocativeness. The film is so consistent with beautiful sets & imagery it really is a feast for the eyes.
It's hard to find something wrong with this film. Christopher Nolan is one of the best Directors of today, and this film is more than proof of it. It seems to have been handled with such care. There's chemistry between all the elements and no scene is less than spectacular.
Direction: 10/10 (Christopher Nolan knows how to keep an audience from looking away) Cinematography: 10/10 (Visually stunning, such depth in those rich undertones from Wally Pfister) Editing: 10/10 (Lee Smith's sequences are well executed and fitting for drama) Acting: 9/10 (Some minor things may bother you, but not enough to keep you from enjoying) Dialogue: 10/10 (Some very well thought concepts are conveyed through the dialogue alone) Sound: 10/10 (The huge sound team put together a phenomenal recording of pristine quality) Effects: 9/10 (Well coordinated effects which are seamlessly integrated into the film) Art Direction: 10/10 (Realistic sets and props really nurture the film's aesthetic) Costumes: 10/10 (Very fitting, excuse the pun, for the period) Music and/or Score: 10/10 (Lovely orchestrations which give life to moments with no dialogue)
Total Score: 98/100
The Prestige is an enchanting film with some subtle charms. David Bowie's small role as Nicola Tesla is also something to make note of. If you can allow yourself to be drawn into the world of magic then this is a film you will live.