The Prestige doesn't work due to acute predictability

Rating: 3/10 (28 October 2006)

Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige" is a very good looking movie and is very well acted. That having been said Chris Nolan plants so many winks toward the audience and little hints everywhere so that the "not so average" movie goer could see where it is leading one hour into the film. I did and so I am greatly disappointed.
If "The Prestige" carries such an elaborate plot, with many twists and turns and a touch of sci-fi to it (no spoiler warning needed, it is mentioned in the commercial) then why make it simple for audiences to follow it? Movies like this carry great weight with terrific work and craftsmanship but for the second hour I sat in the theater knowing the end.
This is not really a review, seeing that I don't need to review this film after hundreds have already done, but it is simply that if you follow the film properly (by listening to what the characters say without taking everything literally and by seeing everything that you are indeed seeing) its payoff will be quite sub-par.
I compare this to "The Illusionist" because both films attempt to pull off a con on the audience. "The Illusionist" carries more grace, in its almost 1920's film-making style, and the plot is harder to figure out but overall it carries realism, which "The Prestige" does not (by a long shot).
5/10 due to a terribly predictable story that is purposely woven in that fashion by Chris Nolan. If you want to see film that is airtight and what ill awe you, watch his film "Following".
D.