How the mighty fall

Rating: 7/10 (2 November 2007)

Sure, it's clever, but not clever enough. "The Prestige" falls behind high expectations raised by the filmmakers' track record, by stunning trailers and a magnificent poster that would grace any museum wall. Unfortunately, the key plot device is predictable from half-way through at the latest. But then, Wally Pfister's masterful cinematography is compelling all by itself. Also, perhaps one shouldn't complain when a movie gives you David Bowie as Nicola Tesla. The script sure strikes the chord of truth when it calls him "not a magician, but a real wizard". In my book, that's as accurate a description of Tesla as it is of Bowie. From what I've seen of the Nolan brothers' work, I wish they stuck to their own screenplays like they did in "Memento". Having said that, I still can't wait for "The Dark Knight". If anyone can teach that old bat some new tricks, it's Christopher Nolan.