The Prestige (2006)

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 | Illusion | Revenge | Clone

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:

Alfred Borden takes on the stage name of "The Professor". This is the nickname that was given to Dai Vernon, the man many consider to be the best modern day sleight of hand magician.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Angier is walking up the mountain to Tesla's work area, the trees are wrong. Foliage like that does not grow on the mountains in Colorado. And if it did, there wouldn't be leaves.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee: (2006-10-19)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Tripping Gaily

Storytelling at its best!

The Prestige is a masterful exercise in storytelling with superb direction and powerful performances by a grand ensemble cast. From set and production design to cinematography, from script to presentation, Christopher Nolan has once again demonstrated why he is one of the film world's brightest up and coming directors. The Prestige only helps solidify his standing as one of the landmark directors of his generation.

Told in a narrative that jumps between various points along its time line, playing out like a magic act itself, the story is that of two magicians on the rise in their careers. The first -- played by Christian Bale -- is an expert in understanding the fundamentals of any trick, but lacks showmanship. The second -- played by Hugh Jackman -- is a master showman who is more entertaining than technical. A tragic series of events pits the two performers against each other in a battle of wits that spirals further and further out of control, consuming both of them and everything and everyone they care about.

With a story that requires actors with a great deal of emotive range, Nolan has assembled what could be described as a dream cast. Both Bale and Jackman suit their respective roles perfectly, and pitting these two performers against each other was a stroke of casting genius. Michael Caine takes what could have been a forgettable role by any lesser actor and elevates it with his demanding screen presence. Probably the most surprising performance comes from David Bowie whose unforgettable turn as master physicist Nikola Tesla absolutely shines. Add Andy Serkis to the mix, and what is assembled is a group of performers who know how to fully engage the audience.

The Prestige is hard to pigeonhole into any specific genre as it walks the fine line between mystery, drama, suspense and fantasy. In that, the story becomes a never-ending stream of wonder for the mind: one can never tell exactly where the story is going to lead next, becoming more and more as time goes on. This gives Christopher Nolan ample opportunity to play. And play he does. With narration by several characters, each adding their own viewpoint to the events, and with a direction that moves between time to mystify and distract, the end result is a climax that itself is a series of puzzles that each unravel beautifully.

The only major criticisms that can be leveled at the Prestige are a confusing play with the seasons during Tesla's introduction (winter suddenly becomes spring/summer and back again) and a strange choice of music for the closing credits (a pop song at the end of a film such as this seems tacky). However, neither is significant enough of a problem to warrant any need to avoid the film at all.

In the end, the Prestige is a fantastic display of what can be accomplished when you bring together superior talent. It is certainly worth the price of admission and as good as any magic show you are to come across.