The Prestige Movie Review

Rating: 8/10 (3 February 2011)

Are you watching closely? Are your really watching? That's all viewers can do as Director Christopher Nolan takes them into the illusive world of on stage magic, and the very battle unfolded by it's competitors. Robert Angier (Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Bale) are two stage magicians whose love for the very wonder of the art consumes their very souls, as both take each and every chance to crush the other. Secrets, secrets, and more secrets are revealed from both ends as the two risk life, and even their general morality to come out victorious. Robert, a magician with more showman ship to characterize his title, is consumed more and more with a determination to trounce Alfred, wanting to know every secret of his tricks. Obsession can cause so much damage to an individual, no matter what it is. In Roberts case, his need to succeed, will cost him the very thing a person cannot afford to lose, alive or dead, his soul. Borden on the other hand may not be as charismatic as the American gentleman, but with the natural talent he's been blessed with, it's enough to put a smile on his face, so long as he himself can live with secrets. Whether they're hidden from his family, or his enemies, one thing is for sure, secrets are what define this man, and what further drives Angier towards their competition. Their rivalry began in the wake of Roberts own loss, and what he believed to be Borden's own doing, thus fueling their competition to a more personal level, despite the cost of Borden's fingers for Angier's wife. Alas, the loss of the very woman Angier once loved will no longer torment him, and not at the soft lips of his new beloved Olivia (Johansson), but at the lingering desire to emerge as the victor of this battle. Deception becomes the main theme of this game between the two artists, as they play their cards as cautiously as possible, risking life, reputation, and their own humanity as they further and further get their hands dirty. Angier's need to win, escalates into a 2 year journey that further takes him into the dark world of real magic, the kind of magic that brings people surprise, but further misery as the secrets of that dark nature consume those people. The warnings from the already stained Nikola Tesla (Bowie) were not enough to drive Robert off this very corrupt path. His long stay in Colorado Springs turns out more than what he bargained for, as Angier obtains a device capable of breaking through the illusions and the practicality of stage magic. It's all revealed moments after his death, and within moments of Borden's false conviction. The magic of Angier's triumph over Borden does not stop at his mere sacrifice, oh no. It goes further into revealing the dark secrets of that a very machine. The man declared to be the deceased Robert Angier, was merely a double at the expense of the real Robert's or, Lord Caldlow's expense, as well as his further gain. Borden's only child Jess seemed like the proper bargaining ticket for his tricks and their detailed secrets. Unfortunately the deal is easily broken at the very arrogance of Robert's assured victory, tearing the notes into shreds, merely complimenting his own talent over Borden's as if Borden's sentence or even the very wellbeing of his own child in his tainted hands isn't enough to satisfy him. "Abara Kadabra", the common words of any magician are uttered from Borden as his neck breaks and his life ends, leaving this world with one last trick, and one more valuable than the mystery of the transported man. Fallon, Borden's seemingly quite manager, going the whole film without saying 2 words, ends it all with the end of the soulless Robert Angier. It's a climatic conclusion, as it not only ends the film with a terrific twist, but shows Christopher Nolan's dedication to the title of his film. Alfred's twin, capable of playing both parts alongside him, showed the nature as well as the very cost of their good tricks, indulging everyone, friends and enemies in a sense of never ending doubt, curiosity, and even mind wrenching madness that drove one to tainting his soul for the worst, and the other towards the end of her own taken life. Some viewers will believe that the idea of creating a twin brother for a character as deceptive and intelligent as Borden is cheap, but I see it as more of an opportunity to manipulate the nature of this film's theme. "The Prestige" revolves around magic, but it deeply explores the factors of the competition between its 2 characters Borden and Angier, and just how far each one went when trying to learn the other's secrets. Borden is a unique character because he lives in the moment of his magic, remaining dedicated to it, despite its heavy costs, while Robert displays the grasp obsession had on him, as his need to defeat Borden clouded his judgment as well as his very purpose for magic. Borden could enjoy the thrill and wonder of his magic, despite the competition he had indulged in himself. Angier, had no limits, he would no longer fear very evil he had done to continue, murder, abduction, and even acts that play the very noble work of God. The films overall them of limits in the nature of rivalry are what truly motivate these characters, and their very persona's, and that mostly what I enjoyed about this film. The direction of the film, as well how certain events in the film are displayed in the pattern of a magic trick. We viewers are each given a pledge and a turn, but the prestige for each one revealed is at a later time, surprising us to the very talent Chris Nolan has shown with both this ecstatic cast and the interesting subjects of obsession and competition.