How many times can you double-cross your audience?

Rating: 6/10 (19 March 2009)

In 1890s London, two magicians--once protégés of the same aging illusionist--consistently undercut each other on and off the stage, reveling in the revenge and one-upsmanship; Hugh Jackman is the one with the show business flair, while rough-hewn toughie Christian Bale is more intent on conquering the intricacies of unexplainable magic. Using rather obvious ploys (like phony beards and wigs, not to mention Scarlett Johansson as an assistant/secret agent), they each work as much on sabotaging the other's latest success as developing their own skills. This fantastic tale might have bowled us over with a few cunning twists; unfortunately, the baffling screenplay reminds one more of H.G. Wells than "Sleuth", coming up with a bag of tricks so far-fetched it removes the film's core of inherent reality. It is remarkably well-dressed and crafted, although the jumpy editing at the start, darting around in time before settling into a more conventional mode of storytelling, is rather a nuisance. The acting is solid throughout, even as the plot-gimmicks become more and more ridiculous, leading to a depressing and flat conclusion. **1/2 from ****