The Prestige

Clearly the best film of its genre I've seen in a long time (though I'm not quite sure which genre it belongs to). In the time which it is set, magicians were the performers. When Shakespeare entertained and infant comedy amused, magic astounded. As you can imagine, without cameras, only the sharpest eye could catch a magician, and even they had to watch the trick many times in the hope of seeing a mistake. In short, the film examines the rivalry between two magicians, each determined to be the best...and each determined to do whatever was necessary to better their rival.

It is also worth watching each of the performers, as they all act so gracefully until their character each "gets their hands dirty" in order to preserve their greater morals.

The film opens with a voiceover by Michael Caine describing the three acts of any and all magic tricks. There is the initial 'pledge' in which the magician presents to the audience, typically for inspection, a seemingly ordinary object. This is then followed by the 'turn'. The turn is the trick itself, the actual act which provides the deception is provided in this second act. However, no trick is complete without the 'prestige'. It is in this third act that the magician reveals to the audience the illusion, and thus when he puts his reputation in their hands. If his illusion is good enough, he will be renowned as the only man who can perform such an amazing feat.

I mention this because Christopher Nolan has managed to include, and yet conceal, so many turns, that this film is an amazing ride through so many tales of revenge that by the time it's over your heart's pumping, your mind's still running, but you've had just enough. This is what I think makes Nolan's films so fun to watch, the pace slowly, but not too slowly, builds until you're mind is darting through all the clues he's left in the first part of the script as you try to unravel the secrets of the climax, and then the climax comes and leaves you both wanting more, but willing to wait for it.

Definitely see it, if at all possible, see it on the big-screen.

(IMDb)