Not your typical illusion show.

Rating: 8/10 (3 November 2006)

The Prestige/2006/***
Main Stars: Michael Caine Hugh Jackman Christian Bale Scarlett Johansson Rebecca Hall
Christopher Nolan's The Prestige is brilliantly unexpected! When I saw previews for the film, I knew the movie was about intense, intriguing illusions. Illusions so intense that the one performing it might die right in front of the audience or make YOU walk out of the theater. But I can take intense scenes in movies. This one was one of the most intense films I've seen this year! I could hear and feel my heart wanting to escape my chest. Actually, at the end of the film I think my eardrum was damaged. The film was that loud at least during one of the many illusions. One that had the biggest mystery. One that was supposed to have more than just a) the pledge (taking something ordinary and showing it to everyone) and b) the turn (that one ordinary thing becomes something extraordinary). It had to have the most important something. Something that's not just important, but is very difficult to perform. That's c) THE PRESTIGE. That one illusion actually resulted in the climax and resolution of the story so why should I tell YOU? You would kinda predict the climax though after seeing the illusion. At least I did. But everyone's different. The story takes place in London, England. It takes place in the bad parts of London. You might not notice that from the previews. Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are competing magicians who both seem to have a lot of talent in magic. You would think that this competition is peaceful. Well change your thoughts now because it's not. Robert and Alfred are both vengeful people and are both hungry for audience attention. So they both compete and compete with each other. They both hate each other, might I add. They were friends before that until they became hungry for more power over the other. Friendship that became a rivalryRivalry that became a battle. This is an excellent and very true tagline for the film, which brought me to the prediction that this film will be pretty intense, and that's the reason why I didn't run out of the theater after seeing some intense scenes. What is even worse about the competition between these two maniacs and their hunger for attention and power and better magic is that it's interfering with their family. Robert and Alfred both start out with wives and Alfred ends up with a kid. Robert does not. But does Alfred really love his wife (Rebecca Hall) or does he love Olivia Wenscombe (Scarlett Johansson), a woman who works for show and as eye candy in both Robert's and Alfred's department? Maybe he likes neither; maybe he likes both. Usually movies answer your questions. You have that question? See the movie. Then there's Robert who's more of a mystery than Alfred is because he seems to have more on his mind and can't get it out clearly. But you'll find out what his plan is. In my opinion, Alfred is worse than Robert. To not be so blunt, I'll specify it a little more. He's worse in the way of how violent he is and what he does is terrible, and I think he caused Robert to be that way. He influenced him to be as violent as he is. Plus, he may have been influenced by his manager Cutter (Michael Caine) who really pressured him and wanted the best of the best out of him. And to think this movie is supposed to be about magic and friendly competition and the magicians reading each others diaries and tricking each other with odd codes and twists and turns that might take years to decode. The decoding of diaries was actually in the movie. But it's not that way in this film. The Prestige has more than just a stupid illusion show; it has a good illusion show and it has a good background story. It shows how messed up some people get when they want attention and that turns into a plausible, intense thriller! Movie directed by Christopher Nolan.