One of Nolan's and Bale's most prestigious films which proves gripping and enthralling

Rating: 10/10 (24 February 2010)

If any director could make a film about two rival magicians who compete for a few tricks to bedazzle against each other at every prospect, then Christopher Nolan has definitely proved the man for the job. His almost trademark nonlinear narrative structure is as far from hackneyed as Christian Bale is having an angry outburst at the director of photography on a film (oops sorry about that Christian).
Robert and Alfred - Bale and Jackman are two manic, manipulative magicians (like what I did with the m's there?) whose obsession with trickery and determination to be the best of the best plays a huge motivation for The Prestige. And it is all cleverly manifests by all the intervening past scenes that show how the smallest details became significant to the present day plot where our story begins; but by present day I mean early 20th century.
So with these flashbacks you can expect plenty of 'Ahhhh I see how they did that' moments and a plot with so many layers it will match your homemade birthday cake. But Nolan can't receive all the credit for what makes this film so riveting. The rivalry between Bale and Jackman is intense and real sense of history and abhorrence is among them, so much so that it feels like World War three could break out at any moment. Scarlett Johansson though slightly underused for such a talented actress provides numerous ardent scenes between the main leads and shows she isn't just someone to ogle at in a corset - no complaints about that though.
On this form Nolan's Inception should be a blast which The Prestige will no doubt wet your appetite for and give you a reason to watch over and over again not that one is needed anyway.