Great story and characters make the slightly confusing storyline worth it.

Rating: 9/10 (14 June 2015)

This is not a movie to be watched just for fun, but it is great fun to watch if you're willing to "watch closely" the entire time. It's a little confusing with the various timelines that I still don't have a perfect grasp on after seeing it twice, but it's not that hard to follow as Nolan films go even though you don't fully understand everything that's going on. The complexity of it will definitely make you want to see it again, but not because you can't follow it the first time around like Inception with all of the rules of the dream world.
The two (or three) main characters of Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) drive the plot in their unrestricted battle. Their relationship is a little bit like that of Miguel and Tulio in El Dorado with the separate but equal partnership, but it is present more like the characters in Troy where everyone is the good guy and the bad guy at multiple points. We see both of their strengths, weaknesses, dark sides, and good qualities equally, leaving us to choose who to root for. Both men are good at heart, but their vengeful emotions and obsessive personalities lead them to do things that the audience knows they shouldn't do, but somehow, we know that they must. Michael Caine, as always, plays the voice of reason in the part of Cutter, the seasoned veteran magician who runs Angier and Borden's joint show. His voice over that dissects a magic act is a perfect compliment to the film. The lead female roles of Sarah, Julia, and Olivia provide a lot of motivation and sometimes means of Angier and Borden getting back at each other, but they all have importance and dignity. The magicians' relationships with their wives are where we really see that they are good, caring men underneath their obsessions. Sarah demands respect from Borden, which puts her a little ahead of her time with women's rights movements. Julia Angier isn't given as much depth because of her untimely death, but it's clear that Angier really suffers from losing her which is a plus for her character. Olivia adds a lot of depth to both men because she recognizes that they are ruled by their obsessions and knows that their trust in her shouldn't give her reason to trust them. Nikola Tesla and Gerald Root have a small parts, and are both really only important in advancing Angier's line.
The plot is a little tough to follow since it's often hard to tell when some scenes take place, but if it gets confusing, just keep in mind that Angier and Borden's main two motivations are vengeance on each other and creating the ultimate version of the world's greatest magic trick. Part of the flashback confusion comes from the two reading each other's diaries at different times. It's possible, though difficult, to guess the ending, though that shouldn't affect how much you enjoy it. Regardless, it's a very strong story. I can understand how people think the story cheats by using Tesla's sci-fi invention, but the science element is incorporated proficiently enough that it works out well.
The acting is about A to A- quality across the board. The script was phenomenal in my opinion, with lots of great lines that really stay with you even though they aren't very quotable. The costuming seemed pretty spot on, and the lighting was very well done in the different magic acts. The cinematography and camera work is spectacular at a couple of points like the first time we see Borden's trick and the shot of Angier as he listens to the applause while under the stage. The one technical point I would have changed is the slight overabundance of flashback scenes. Either they should have cut down on them or let you know that they were flashbacks a little better.
If you like Nolan movies, a good story, or great characters, definitely put this on your list of things to watch. If you're looking for a group movie or something to just watch for the heck of it, look elsewhere. Also, it's a dramatic thriller and not a fantasy, so there's no "real magic" in the film. If you get bored with it partway through, I would strongly encourage that you watch it to the end because the ending is really worth seeing. Overall Rating: 8.65/10.