Quintessential Nolan

Rating: 8/10 (7 March 2020)

A Nolan film with Bale, Jackman, and ScarJo... why am I only watching this in 2020!? I'm glad that I finally took the plunge and watched this mysterious and intriguing film, telling the tale of two magicians on a quest to one up the other, never knowing when enough is enough.
What really drew me in about The Prestige was its originality. At it's core it was a tale of betrayal and revenge, but it was wrapped up in a rather novel and unique package which continually piqued my interest.
The performances throughout were solid, which is to be expected from any Nolan film. I particularly doff my cap to ScarJo for her respectable attempt at a British accent.
One draw back for me was the non-linear story telling. At times this benefited the story, however at others it did seem a tad confusing and perhaps had it been told in a linear fashion the story could have flowed more and some twists could have had a stronger impact.
The direction was typical Nolan - masterful and carefully considered, adding to the atmosphere of mystery.
This was a well paced film with the plot ramping up toward an exciting if somewhat predictable conclusion. This is where I return to my criticism of the non-linear storytelling - I feel that this could have been used more effectively to disguise the prestige of the final trick and deliver a more shocking ending.
The Prestige was a thoroughly enjoyable and unique film which delivered an interesting and twisting plot through believable and well though out characters.