Are you watching closely?

Rating: 8/10 (5 August 2010)

The Prestige, is yet another example of how talented is Christopher Nolan is at screen writing and film presentation. He has this thing of creating the illusion in the audience's mind and finally tricking or fooling them in the end. The film itself, is a trick, and it is up to the audience that whether they get themselves fooled or they find the reason behind it.
As the novel, the film revolves around the obsessive rivalry between two fellow Magicians, Angier and Borden. They do a lot of hard work in cheating each other, defeating each other, and in the end -- None of them wins, exactly.
The film is presented in different threads of story lines, which are interwoven together and near the end, these threads, produce the real picture, the reality. Outstanding work has been done for the film by both Nolan brothers for writing such a complex yet sophisticated adaptation of the novel. The film's plot joins the list of twisted ending films like the Sixth Sense.
Production values are marvelous in the film. Cinematographer, Wally Pfister gets each and every shot perfectly pictured. The lighting, the colors are magnificent and they complement to the film's dark tone. It is, Wally Pfister's best work, so far. He really brings the chimera of the film through his camera. Editor Lee Smith, again, does a great job, perfectly pacing the film and getting the right scenes at right places. Production Designer Nathan Crowley's set are outstanding, the era of Victorian London of early 1900's is beautifully created by his team. However, music by David Julyan is underplayed or perhaps his score itself is bland, as compared to such an amazing film.
This film is not Christopher Nolan's best, but yet it is very good, and will keep you on the edge of the seat until the secrets are revealed. Not to be missed. 8/10