holds you but isn't always easy to follow

Rating: Null/10 (28 March 2007)

Intricate, serpentine thriller—not a surprise since it's co-written and directed by Christopher Nolan—set toward the turn of 20th century London about two ambitious magicians, one a charismatic seeker of fame with a penchant for showmanship, the other a sly and dazzling illusionist, who are devoted partners until their greatest trick goes tragically awry. Torn apart by their resentment and mutual desire to be the best, they become bitter enemies who'll stop at nothing to learn each other's secrets, and their rivalry escalates into a lifelong obsession of deceit and sabotage. Slow at first, but the story is interesting, the two leads are formidable (Jackman lively and flamboyant, Bale mysterious and subdued), and there's a lot of chicanery and hocus pocus to please the eye, but the plotting is confusing, almost incomprehensible at times, and the ending feels contrived. Still, director Nolan does a good job of building suspense and intrigue, but you'd probably have to watch it multiple times to appreciate all the skill and craft. **½