|
THE
PRESTIGE
 |
| |
|
|
Review Date: Oct. 3, 2006 |
| Director: Chris
Nolan |
| Writer: C. Nolan, J. Nolan
|
| Actors: Christian
Bale |
| Hugh Jackman |
| Michael Caine |
| Genre: Drama, Thriller, Fantasy |
| |
Set in London during the late 1800’s, two feuding magicians are on a mission to be the best performers in the world. Their quest for fame and glory is over-shadowed by a lifetime of obsession in trying to out-do and learn each others’ trade secrets.
Whoever thought of getting Batman and Wolverine together to do a movie deserves a raise right now! You couldn’t ask for a better combination of actors and by throwing in a little Michael Caine with a touch of Scarlett Johansson… WHAMMO! You have all the makings of a great flick! Man, did this film ever deliver! We finally get a great film that’s original and proves that you don’t need fancy special effects and a huge budget. Hey Hollywood, are you listening?! This film presents you with a solid story that keeps you guessing all the way to the end and provides a great take on turn-of-the-century magic.
Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale are excellent as feuding magicians obsessed with out-doing each others acts. You really get a sense of duality between the characters and how they share the same goals and dreams, but are committed to outshine the other. I really dug the way Chris Nolan explores this throughout the movie. You see a gradual transformation from a friendly clash that quickly turns into an obsession, which then results into sabotage and murder. Their obsession gets to the point where they’ll go to extreme measures just to protect the secrets to their magic acts. Really intriguing stuff!
Michael Caine’s character was an engineer who designed and built the contraptions for the magic acts. They used some really crazy stuff (love that bird cage harness!) and they had cruel methods in executing some of their animal tricks. But I guess that’s how it was done back then? Oh yeah! The hot assistants, we get the ever so lovely Piper Perabo, who was great, but I wished she had a little more screen time. But most importantly, we have uber-hottie Scarlett Johansson, who plays the love interest to both magicians. She did a great British accent and your eyes will be just glued to the screen watching her on-screen beauty (I really felt we had a connection). To take it even to another level, we’re presented with elements of “New Science” by Nikola Tesla, played by a very puffy looking David Bowie. We’re shown that there is a fine line between magic and science and that there are consequences by integrating the two.
The very first frame of the movie really sets the tone and has you wondering right off the bat, where the story is going. Combining this element with the mysterious and captivating mood Nolan created, allows the viewer to enjoy a great cinematic experience. You really get a feeling for the time period, with the set designs and the wardrobe. I can say this with complete certainty: Nolan is now one of those directors that, whenever his name is attached to a film it’s going to be great and THE PRESTIGE was exactly that….great! Abracadabra.
-- by Tim
Goernert (who
am I?)
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