The Prestige
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Movie Reviews of The Prestige
Movie Review: Great Film!
Summary: 5 Stars
A friendship....an accidental death....revenge....a rivalry ensues....THE PRESTIGE.
I forget the reason I went to see The Prestige in the first place, but I won't forget the reasons I went to see it the 2nd and 3rd time around. If you like tales of mystery, suspense, and revenge, then this film is for you. If you've only seen it once, you'll leave the theater asking yourself if you really saw what you thought you saw. Well, unless wrote the story or the screenplay, then the answer is a resounding NO. There are so many twists and turns and puzzles to be solved that it will take two or three or maybe even more viewings to finally grasp the excellence of this film. If you're not watching again because you missed important plot points, you're probably watching it again because you really enjoyed it.
Whether or not you understand the plot, this film will haunt you by the great performances of Bale, Jackman, and Michael Cain as the Engineer. The voiceovers were done great as both magicians read both diaries througout the movie. They draw you into the story and you wonder what will be the next move performed by each rival. The dialogue between characters and overall emotions were done perfect. You don't feel cheated by any of the performances. What I mean by that is Borden and Angier and the cast of characters around them are entirely believable. I first saw Christian Bale in Batman Begins and really didn't have any faith in him, but boy what a difference in this movie. He has extraordinary potential as an actor. Bale, being a Brit himself, managed to come up with a wildly thicker accent than he actually has and it plays in perfectly with his character. The broke magician who knew the secrets of magic and never gave up on his craft despite his adversities.
I give another thumbs up to Andy Serkis and David Bowie who plays famed physicist Nikola Tesla. Again, Andy Serkis is best known for his fabulous performance in the Lord of the Rings films, however he will surprise you in this one with his quirky accent and actions. I really don't understand the negative reviews of this film. I can only imagine that the reviewers expected something else when going to see it. It's a complex film with intertwining stories with a tragic end. This film is not The Illusionist, it's better (sorry I just had to compare).
This is a great film that everyone should enjoy, and is worth watching over and over again.
Movie Review: One of the Best Films that Got Overlooked
Summary: 5 Stars
Proof positive that director Christopher Nolan, Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale are among the finest, richest talents in Hollywood, "The Prestige" is a wickedly clever and riveting tale of all consuming obsession. Don't be fooled by the magic angle. This is a classic tale that simply uses rival magicians and the tricks of their trade to illustrate what all-too driven individuals are willing to unleash on one another in the name of one-upsmanship and superiority. Bale and Jackman are terrific as the pair of rival magic men who try to destroy each other, their destructive animosity etched on their faces. And its a showcase for the considerable talents of Christopher Nolan, who (along with his screenwriter kin Johnathon Nolan) executes one the most impressively acrobatic balancing acts in cinematic storytelling with the ease of a born illusionist. Set in turn of the century England, magicians Alfred Borden (Bale) and Robert Angier (Jackman) toil to ascend to the upper echelons of the London entertainment circuit, under the tutelage of Cutter (the always superb Michael Caine), an experienced magician's aide. Borden's and Angier's relationship turns poisionous after a tragic accident during a routine show, and both attempt to sabotage to other's attempt to rebuild their stiymied careers until Borden unveils a mind-boggling trick called the "Transported Man," and Angier is driven nearly insane trying to discover Borden's methods that may (or may not) involve revolutionary new electrical technology developed by Nikola Tesla (a suprisingly restrained and haunting David Bowie). The Nolan brothers take this story and send through the gauntlet, using flashbacks and flashbacks within flashbacks keep their audience just a little off guard and totally unprepared for the final twists that come furiously flying in the film's film's minutes while never losing sight of the slowly deteriorating psyches of their characters. In other words, they tell their story just as any good magician would perform his trick. But stick with them. The film, although sometimes a grueling task to follow, steadily coalesces and amply rewards the careful observer. Besides, Wally Pfister's cinematography, which finds the right balance of elegance and grittiness, and Lee Smith's rhythmic editing practically draw the audience in. If "The Prestige" somehow passed you by in theaters, do not let it slip by now. Watch closely at the on the best films waiting to be discovered.Movie Review: A Beautiful Film
Summary: 5 Stars
The Prestige is one of those films that doesn't come along much anymore. It is not a remake or based loosely off a video game. This film is a smart, creative, original, and beautifully crafted masterpiece. It's actually quite hard to describe because it is indeed very different.
The script itself is largely complex at times. Many twists and turns leave the viewer wondering what the hell is going on. This makes The Prestige very fun to watch over and over(as MANY have noted). I have watched the film a few times and I still have to think about the events that are going on and what is really happening within them. There hasn't been too many films like that made, especially made lately. So many films become too dumbed done or boring nowadays. It is refreshing to see a movie that can truly challenge ones mind at times. To be frank, I haven't ever seen a film quite like this. It's astonishing how good this script is.
The acting is wonderful here. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale have really proven themselves that they are very talented. Bale is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors in Hollywood today; he is very good. His performance surprised me because of how good it was. I haven't seen too many Hugh Jackman films, but theres no mistaking that the man can act. It is cool how at first the viewer almost roots for his character, but as time goes on that changes. Michael Caine is always amazing; this film is no exception. I'm not a huge Scarlett Johansson fan, but she did well. Better than what I expected actually. Certainly wasn't too hard to look at either!
Nolan's directing is so incredible here. The man puts his heart in his art and it shows 100%. The way the film is shot is also almost hard to describe because it is absolutely beautiful in every sense of the word. The lighting and photography go beyond incredible. The two work together perfectly creating the slightly dark mood for the film and it works great. The film is bathed in deep rich colors and textures. Almost as good of eye candy as Johansson.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Prestige. More so upon numerous viewings though. It really grows on you and takes some time for it to fully settle in. It is a complex film filled with mystery, rage, rivalry, and emotion. The film keeps a steady perfect pace and never becomes boring. It is a gorgeous piece of art. A near perfect film that is highly recommended.
Movie Review: The Prestige...that's right...
Summary: 5 Stars
Now I am going to say right off the bat, I am that person who can predict pretty much the ending of anything. I mean, I knew five minutes into "The Usual Suspects" who was Kaiser...but I digress. I have noticed in the lower end of the reviews that there are things said like its boring. I am curious as to why you would say that, I mean I usually find that when people say something is boring, it is because they don't understand it. I know about Tesla, long before this movie came along, I know about the fact that they sealed off his lab when he died and how Edison tried to destroy him. I even know that was off the beaten path and that most people didn't understand him but that among other things, namely that he was a genius, makes him cool.
Now, this is the kind of movie that is for the thinking audience, I saw the Illusionist and let me say its a good film, a fairy tale, but a good movie nonetheless, Paul G. is awesome in it. But its for the not so thinking audience, its something soft and sweet to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. This movie I saw on a Friday afternoon after work and it was probably one of the better afternoons I have spent in a movie theatre. I mean the comment about revenge was kind of special. If movies are influncing you to do things maybe you should stay away from the multiplex. This movie is about living in this time where science was magic, if someone had told you in 1880 that you would be able to sit in front of a screen and send letters to your friends over a wire, you would have been amazed but its something that is commonplace to us. There's nothing magic about email, but this was something that would have been magical to our ancestors.
I agree with one comment I read about "Le Comte du Monte Cristo" that was very true its one of those books that everyone knows, although I have yet to see someone film a version with the real ending from the book in it. Revenge is something that we like to see obtained but even in that case there was a reckoning for it and there was morality too.
This movie is amazing, and even though I knew the heart of the trick, I still found it interesting to watch it unfold. Oh, it a great one. Its on my top one hundred movies ever.
By the way, I notice that someone said that the acting wasn't that good. Please, Mike Caine was amazing, so was Jackman and Bale, Scarlet was a bit stiff but other than that, great talent.
Movie Review: You'll Care About the Film in this Box
Summary: 5 Stars
Nolan's Prestige, like many of his films, is a dark, somber exploration of human emotions, ambitions and failings. It features many of Nolan's artistic touches, including his trademark out-of-sequence narrative, so those of you who hate this format will be irritated by the progression of this film.
The Prestige chronicles the intense rivalry between two ambitious young magicians struggling to make it big in turn of the century London. Alfred Borden (Bale) and Robert Angier (Jackman) actually begin as colleauges, both working as magician's assistants on an act engineered by Cutter (Caine). A tragic accident during one of the performances transforms a mutual professional jealousy into a bitter and lifelong feud that will cost each man dearly.
Angier and Borden are the embodiment of two diametrically opposed philosophies and it is this collision of ideals that lies at the very heart of the film. Angier is more concerned with showmanship and accolades than with the magic itself, while for Borden the craft is what consumes him, audience be damned. The lengths each will go to in order to achieve their ideal, and simultaneously outshine the other, provides the key to the mystery that ties the whole story together. This film has not one, but two twists to its ending. You might guess the one halfway through, but the second is very cleverly concealed by Noland's deft direction.
The film competed against "The Illusionist", which had been released to critical acclaim a few months earlier. Among the two I prefer the The Prestige, which I find is deeper and handled more maturely. Many people disagree, preferring the lighter, more conspicuously 'magical' Illusionist. This is reflected in the ratings here on Amazon as well (The Illusionist averages half a star better).
The Prestige is certainly a darker, somewhat less straight-forward film, and while some might resent the sci-fi spin added in the last act, it provides the basis for the moral abyss into which Angier must fall. Both Angier and Borden are developed to a much greater extent than any character in The Illusionist; they simply feel more human. In fact, it is their very humanity, their frailties, that warp their passion into obsession, and finally into hatred and revenge.
Featuring Scarlett Johansson as the love interest and David Bowie in a great turn as Nikola Tesla. Highly recommended.