The Prestige (2006)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Writers (WGA):

Jonathan Nolan (screenplay) and
Christopher Nolan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

A Friendship That Became a Rivalry.

Plot:

The rivalry between two magicians is exacerbated when one of them performs the ultimate illusion.

Plot Keywords:

Magician | Death | Magic | Courtroom | Uncertainty Principle

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Hugh Jackman	...	Robert Angier
Christian Bale	...	Alfred Borden
Michael Caine	...	Cutter
Piper Perabo	...	Julia McCullough
Rebecca Hall	...	Sarah
Scarlett Johansson	...	Olivia Wenscombe
Samantha Mahurin	...	Jess
David Bowie	...	Tesla
Andy Serkis	...	Alley
Daniel Davis	...	Judge
Jim Piddock	...	Prosecutor
Christopher Neame	...	Defender
Mark Ryan	...	Captain
Roger Rees	...	Owens
Jamie Harris	...	Sullen Warder

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images.

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Finland:K-11 | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:18PL | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42935) | Philippines:R-13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Italy:T | Sweden:11 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Brazil:14 | Denmark:11 | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Norway:15 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Belasco Theatre - 1060 S. Hill Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Chung Ling Soo was a stage character created by a Caucasian American man, William Ellsworth Robinson, who disguised himself as a Chinese man to cash in on audiences' enthusiasm for the exotic. Robinson lived as Chung, never breaking character while in public. He died in March 1918 when a bullet catch trick went wrong. "My God, I've been shot" were both his last words and the first English he had spoken on stage in 19 years.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the two scenes in which Jackman and Caine discover playing cards attached to the bottom of their pint glasses, the glasses they are drinking from are 'Nonic' glasses. These were designed in the 1960s to protect straight glasses from nicks and cracks when cleaned in automatic dishwashers.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Alfred Borden: Are you watching closely?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Director's Notebook (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Drinkin' Down the Rose & Crown

Prestigious

The Prestige. I am impressed. I am a HUGE fan of Hugh Jackman and bought the book as soon as I heard he would be in this movie. I read it and enjoyed it, but wasn't especially fond of it. But I still had been really looking forward to this movie.

I went to the first showing opening day (Friday, Oct. 20th) with 2 friends and sat a row behind them, alone, to enjoy it peacefully. I loved it all.

Christopher Nolan really has a gift at directing. The way the movie cuts back and forth between different places and times is clever. Although some might be confused or left stupefied, others will be happy and glorified. The movie will keep you guessing the whole time until the very end. The script, acting, settings, props, everything was so well-done.

Hugh Jackman was excellent as the angry, obsessive magician trying to gain back his life by revenge. Christian Bale was equally impressive as the mystifying, secretive showman, never letting out his secrets until necessary. Michael Caine rocked in supporting everyone else's parts with his curiosity. The rest of the cast rounded out nicely and helped out where need be. I really recommend this movie to a sophisticated audience who doesn't mind a long, mysterious movie.

And man, what an ending.