Wild, Intelligent, Challenging, and Entertaining

Rating: 10/10 (22 October 2006)

Nolan does it again. He creates a cerebral, mysterious, and very entertaining thriller that is original and keeps his audience interested for two hours, without talking down to its audience or passing tired remakes as something worth their time. Here is a film based on literature, on vibrant and original characters, with actors who can show others what is like to inhabit their roles and do their best every time they on screen. Both Bale and Jackman are at the top of their game, complementing what the other does in order to put on quite a show, pretty much like the protagonists in the story, they appear to be outdoing each other, but in reality they are just both doing work that enhances and makes the entire film a joy to watch.
Without revealing many of the exciting surprises in the film, it is possible to give a brief summary of what works: an amazing script by Nolan his brother that gives rivalry a new twisted perspective. Here is a couple of men obsessed with fame and the new challenging, out to outdo each other and to avenge some perceived wrongs. As the film unwinds or winds tighter (depending on how you perceive its development), one follows each of the two "magicians" as they try to discover each other secrets, unlocking them and finding revelations that might not be too palatable as they reveal much more of their true nature.
What the film carries beyond the charming "Illusionist" is the furious dedication and obsession that lies in the heart of every true "professional". Bale is a natural and knows how to create and develop an illusion, and illusion is the key word here. The more theatrical performer, portrayed by Jackman, is willing to integrate technology and to learn from his mistakes. What hampers his progress is the constant and dangerous competition by Bale's Borden.
The film never cheats his audience. In fact, it gives us all the answers, and then it ups the level of curiosity by taking us along a ride that resembles a maze, and where nothing is what it seems. It is a challenging film to watch, and the only regret is watching its conclusion, not because it's a letdown, but because it means the ride is over, or is it?