Were you watching closely?

Rating: 9/10 (23 July 2012)

This movie is a masterpiece in the way that it tells a story. You know a movie is fantastic if it can give everything away within the first five minutes, and still manage to keep you guessing until the end, and that is exactly what this movie does. Christopher and Jonathan Nolan wrote an amazing screenplay dealing with sacrifice, deception, intrigue, and fierce competition. Paired with Christopher Nolan's strong direction, this movie becomes quietly mysterious, and incredibly fascinating.
All you simply need to do is watch--except watch closely. Everything in this movie happens for a reason, and just about every line is extremely important. Seemingly small events impact the entire movement of the film, while larger one brood in the background and affect everything from the characters' actions to the way they deal with situations.
In this movie you must realize the importance of sacrifice, for each man is obsessed with having the best magic trick more than anything else, and therefore willing to give up pretty much anything in order to achieve this. Both of their lives are changed forever for one, seemingly simple trick which they both go about doing in different, equally as difficult ways.
The acting, too, is very good, especially Christian Bale, who is slowly tormented by his all- consuming trick, and Michael Caine, who has a change of heart after discovering the true motives of Hugh Jackman, whom he works for, and who is determined to seek revenge. Throughout the movie, they both lose so much, and yet they both stay on the track of deception and obsess over this one trick. The eerie, building music demonstrates their quest and journey towards fulfillment, and compliments the darker tones of the film.
Overall, if you are willing to think, this movie as a must-see. Just remember--watch closely, because, as Michael Caine says in the movie, "making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back."