Don't miss this intelligent entertaining film!

Rating: 9/10 (10 November 2006)

Christopher Nolan may be the best young director in Hollywood. "The Prestige" is not nearly as challenging as "Memento" but is more intelligent than the average fare. You don't need a PHD to get it. Nolan has now made enough films that we can begin psychoanalyzing him. He seems to be attracted to stories that include obsession, revenge and deceit (self and otherwise.) All of these elements are crucial to the plots of "The Prestige", "Memento" and "Batman Begins." The ending is a bit ambiguous but this is the world of magic where nothing is apparent. It's hard to take sides in this film. There is ruthless conflict between Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale's characters but neither is completely the hero nor the villain. Some of the 'trick' plot devices are a little obvious but it does not spoil the film. It's a fairly visual film and much better than the standard muck so I recommend seeing it in the theater if possible.