A Bit Love It or Hate It; I Love It

Rating: 10/10 (24 August 2015)

Let us start with a quote from the film.
"Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course...it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige". " So says the opening narration of this movie. It's one of my favorite openings in film. Though film is a visual medium, I find that a good poetic speech every now and then can make more of an impact than many sweeping shots or well-choreographed action sequences. It's not a universal opinion, to be sure. But it is definitely one that I hold. Perhaps that's due to the fact that I am a writer to the deepest, darkest, most intimate corner of my heart and soul, as you can likely tell if you've read enough of these recaps.
But if you want to talk about pure movie magic, look just to the content of the speech. Of course, it is about magicians, and it forms some detailed and resonantly captivating framework for the rest of the movie. But it could be easily construed as symbolism for the effect of movies and the movie-making process. Think about it. I did. You ground the audience in reality, take to the cinematic skies, and then stick your landing. I don't know if that was intentional. But it certainly is effective. Now, take a deep breath with me. And dive.
Once again, I am an Nolaniac. If you want to call me a fanboy, so be it. You're wrong. Dead wrong. Damn wrong. In fact, I hate that term when it is applied to those smart and thoughtful who do not deserve it that it makes my blood boil. But I've been called worse. I... do have a tendency of going off on rants, don't I? Oh well. Whatever.
But as a Nolaniac, I can safely say that this is the most Nolan-y of his movies, for better and for worse. I can safely say that there are 3 of his movies that even people who don't like his other movies or are indifferent to them all love. Those being TDK, Inception, and Memento. This is the 'measure movie', if you will. If you love this movie, you likely love Nolan movies. If you hate this movie, you likely hate Nolan movies. And if you're indifferent to this movie, you likely are indifferent to Nolan movies.
The basic plot is simple enough, particularly for a Nolan movie: two magicians try to one-up each other. But this is not just a movie about magic; it's a film about pride, folly, showmanship, desperation, and the extents to which one will go to achieve their desires, even at the cost of their own sanity. Stylishly stunning with great acting and a gripping plot, it is one of modern cinema's great marvels as well a movie that wants to be seen time and time again.
It may not be as haunting upon a second watching as Memento or as thematically resonant upon a second watching as TDK or as striking and impressive upon a second watching as Inception, it is the Nolan movie that I say reveals the most upon a second watching. Mostly due to the ending twist, which was... interesting, to say the least.
Like Interstellar, I movie which I like alright but is probably Nolan's weakest to date, many of the people who hate this film hate it because of that ending. They feel like after the curtain was pulled up, there is nothing to witness. I disagree with them, but I do admit that they make a few good points.
While it is not as big of a problem here as it is in the scientifically-minded Interstellar, the revelation of something that could conceivably called 'real magic' does mess with the tone of the film a bit. And it is not as sharp or thrilling or thought-provoking as many other Nolan movies, which is why I put in here on this list.
Of course, I can't fail to mention that this film had a golden rating from me by the time they went to visit Tesla for the first time. Though I am a film critic first, I do say that I am not a cyborg (though that would be cool) and thus am not without feelings. And while the section is gritty and dark and accurate in its depiction of the landscape of the Old West and is objectively a high point, it is the combination of Tesla (one of my favorite scientists) and Colorado Springs (where I've lived since I was born) that permanently endeared this movie to me.
Which brings me to my closing statements. This is a movie thematically about perception and like most Nolan movies, it runs along the tracks of its themes. So let me say this: your opinion of The Prestige wrests mostly on perception. If you are looking to bash on this movie, you will bash on it. If you are looking to adore this movie, you will adore it. And if you are looking with an open mind for an impressive film experience, you will not be disappointed.