"A man's reach often exceeds his grasp"

Rating: 9/10 (29 October 2006)

Big fan of Nolan's ever since Memento; I still think his best film thus far is his first full-length feature: Following. The Prestige is undoubtedly his most ambitious film thus far, and it is mesmerizing, no question. By the end, however, I felt that style won out over substance just a bit.
Great acting throughout, with Michael Caine being a shoo-in for a Best Supporting Actor nod. Bale (who, like Caine, is always great) and Jackman (who convinced me finally that he can indeed act) are perfectly cast as the dueling magicians. Bowie, I felt, was also perfect as Tesla - an elegant performance from an always-elegant performer.
The movie does have those 3 acts, just like in a successful 'trick': the Pledge, the Turn, and the all-important Prestige. This film does deliver on all three, even if it stumbles just a little on the execution.