The Prestige (2006)

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

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Writers:

Jonathan Nolan (screenplay), Christopher Nolan (screenplay),

Stars:

Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine

Top 250 #68 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

In the end of the Nineteenth Century, in London, Robert Angier, his beloved wife Julia McCullough and Alfred Borden are friends and assistants of a magician. When Julia accidentally dies during a performance, Robert blames Alfred for her death and they become enemies. Both become famous and rival magicians, sabotaging the performance of the other on the stage. When Alfred performs a successful trick, Robert becomes obsessed trying to disclose the secret of his competitor with tragic consequences.

---

Plot Keywords:

magician | rivalry | secret | illusion | deceit | 

---

Taglines:

A Friendship That Became a Rivalry.

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Touchstone Pictures [us] Warner Bros [fr]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

El gran truco

Filming Locations:

Spring Street Towers - 650 S. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,109,729 (Australia) (17 November 2006)

Gross:

$53,082,743 (USA) (2 February 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Warner Bros, Newmarket Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The main characters' initials spell ABRA (Alfred Borden Robert Angier), as in Abracadabra, a common word used by magicians.

---

Goofs

During the magic show where Alfred meets Sarah for the first time, on both sides of the stage there are statues looking exactly like the two guardian statues found in King Tutankhamen's tomb, but the tomb was not discovered until 1922.

---

Quotes

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

---

Connections

Referenced in Live with Kelly and Michael: Episode dated 19 October 2006 (2006)

---

Soundtracks

"Bathroom Scales"
Composed by Andy Vale
Courtesy of APM

User Reviews

Amazing! twist after twist!

I have to say this is one of the best movies i have seen this year, i was not expecting it to be that good. There's twist after twist, and when you think there is no more, there will be. Great performances and ever better plot. I highly recommend this movie to all ages.

New idea for a movie, and they succeeded it at it greatly. It will have you thinking every time you see a magician on TV!

i had to give this movie a 10/10, and i only have 4 movies that i would rate that way in my life time. If there is anything you do this year, make it a trip to watch this movie!

I hope you enjoy it as much as i did.