What happened to The Prestige?

Rating: 7/10 (6 November 2006)

There are three acts in every magic trick, as Sir Michael Cane says, the pledge, the turn and the prestige. Just like the three acts of these so-called illusions, The Prestige is played out like its subject. Christopher Nolan's newest endeavor tells the story of two magicians, Robert Angier, played by the overtly childish Hugh Jackman, and Alfred Borden, played by the always consuming Christian Bale.
Separated by a magic trick gone bad, involving Angier's wife, Julia Angier (Piper Parabo) , the two magicians become rivals, sabotaging each others illusions at an attempt to destroy their credibility. The plot thickens as Angier becomes obsessed with one of Borden's newest tricks, due to his inability to understand its inner workings. Plagued with his misunderstanding of the illusion, Angier attempts to copy or re-create the trick, but due to its finally, never enjoys the audiences amazement after the prestige is finally revealed.
Nolan uses a non-linear storyline to confuse us, and to ultimately try and take attention away from some of the vast plot holes within the films twists, turns and surprises. Despite its flaws within the plot and some of the mediocre acting, compliments of the ever so dull, faintly British accented Scarlett Johansson, The Prestige does lend a sort of entrancement into the world of 18th century magicians only Nolan could make alluring. Teaming back up with his brother Jonathan Nolan, the writing/directing team has fallen miles short of their first collaboration, the artfully masterful play on the human memory, Memento.
When The Prestige finally shows us the prestige, or third act of its illusion, it is not as shocking as Nolan intended it to be. It seems that the brotherly duo tried too hard in the implementation of the prestige, they forgot to solidify the first two acts of the film or trick, depending on how far you would like to take this metaphor. Finally, The Prestige is a beautiful piece of film, with a few flaws that keep it from being a perfect film, but will surely be an upstanding contender in this years Oscar race.