Make It Disappear

Rating: 4/10 (21 December 2008)

This well-mounted production is a study in waste. Waste of a great cast. Scarlett Johanssen is given nothing to do but look pretty and be mean. Her character is not developed enough for us to know why she is as treacherous as she is. Michael Caine is excellent and steals every scene he's in. But he is not in enough scenes to save the movie. Piper Perabo is not given enough screen time to establish her character before she is killed off.
Hugh Jackman is wooden and mildly comical as one of the two obsessed competing magicians (looking very much like comic Joe Flahrety). Christian Bale does his usual imitation of a stick. These two seem to have taught David Bowie how to play a stick as well.
The story should be engaging, but is not. It bores one with its trite little clumsy plot twists. Actual, the director could have saved some time and footage by just flashing "PLOT TWIST" on the screen each time.
The surprise ending (could have just flashed "SURPRISE ENDING" on the screen) is no surprise. But it is a relief. At long last this turkey ends! Oh, yeah, and only we the audience know the real secret! How remarkable.
I've given Prestige four stars; for its high production values and for Michael Caine.