Nolan's Prestige.

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2015)

The Prestige (2006): Dir: Christopher Nolan / Cast: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, Rebecca Hall: Spellbinding film about the explanations behind magic. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale play rival magicians with a life long rivalry bent on figuring out the other. Controversy rises when a female apprentice drowns in a tank in a trick that backfired. Christopher Nolan previously made the best of the Batman series in Batman Begins as well as directing the clever thriller Memento. Here he examines the explanations and challenges of magic with tremendous sets and acts to overwhelm the mind. Jackman is excellent as an accomplished magician out to perfect the transporting act. Bale as the rival is married and has a daughter but spends much time in prison for murder. Scarlett Johansson plays an apprentice of Jackman's sent to achieve Bale's secrets. Finally there is Michael Caine who voices reason and the mystery behind it all. Rebecca Hall plays Bale's wife while Piper Perabo plays the wife of the Jackman character. Nolan is among the most intelligent of directors and seems confident in creating suspense as well as leave audiences guessing but the ending here may be questionable to some if not brilliantly vengeful. It doesn't believe magic so much as believe its illusion and utter disappointment. Score: 9 / 10