The Prestige (2006)

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Writers (WGA):

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

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 | Rivalry | Trick | Secret | Obsession

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
Monty Stuart	...	Stagecoach Driver
Ron Perkins	...	Hotel Manager
Ricky Jay	...	Milton
J. Paul Moore	...	Virgil
Anthony De Marco	...	Boy (as Anthony DeMarco)
Chao Li Chi	...	Chung Ling Soo (as Chao-Li Chi)
Gregory Humphreys	...	Policeman
John B. Crye	...	Voice
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Merrit (as W. Morgan Sheppard)
Sean Howse	...	Man
Julie Sanford	...	Elegant Lady
Ezra Buzzington	...	Ticket Hawker
James Lancaster	...	Moderator
Olivia Merg	...	Jess - Toddler
Zoe Merg	...	Jess - Toddler
Johnny Liska	...	Scalper
Russ Fega	...	Man in Hotel
Kevin Will	...	Man in Hotel
Edward Hibbert	...	Ackerman
Christopher Judges	...	Burly Stagehand
James Otis	...	Blind Stagehand 1
Sam Menning	...	Blind Stagehand 2
Brian Tahash	...	Blind Stagehand 3
Scott Davis	...	Carriage Driver
Jodi Bianca Wise	...	Glamorous Assistant
Nikki Glick	...	Housekeeper
Enn Reitel	...	Workman 1
Clive Kennedy	...	Warder
Rob Arbogast	...	Leonard (as Robert Arbogast)
Chris Cleveland	...	Will
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erin Cipolletti	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Basil McCurry	...	Bored Audience Member (uncredited)
Tim Pilleri	...	Piano Player 1 (uncredited)
Wendy Rosoff	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Inna Swann	...	Handkerchief Lady (uncredited)
Deanna Lynn Walsh	...	Woman on Carriage Bus (uncredited)

Directed by
Christopher Nolan

Writing credits (WGA)
Jonathan Nolan		(screenplay) and
Christopher Nolan		(screenplay)
Christopher Priest		(novel)

Produced by
Christopher Ball	....	executive producer (as Chris J. Ball)
Valerie Dean	....	executive producer
Jordan Goldberg	....	associate producer
Christopher Nolan	....	producer
Aaron Ryder	....	producer
Charles J.D. Schlissel	....	executive producer
Emma Thomas	....	producer
William Tyrer	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Julyan

Cinematography by
Wally Pfister		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lee Smith

Casting by
John Papsidera

Production Design by
Nathan Crowley

Art Direction by
Kevin Kavanaugh

Set Decoration by
Julie Ochipinti

Costume Design by
Joan Bergin

Makeup Department
Janice Alexander	....	department head hair
Karen Asano-Myers	....	hair stylist (as Karen Myers)
Terry Baliel	....	hair stylist
John R. Bayless	....	key makeup artist
Leo Corey Castellano	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Maggie Fung	....	makeup artist
Kenny Myers	....	makeup artist: Mr. Jackman
Peter Robb-King	....	department head makeup
Heba Thorisdottir	....	makeup artist: Ms. Johansson
Victoria Wood	....	wigmaker
Roxane Griffin	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Aimee Macabeo	....	special effects hair: Optic Nerve Studio (uncredited)
Nicole Michaud	....	hair ventilation: Cine-Makeup Inc. (uncredited)
Nicole Michaud	....	special effects hair: Optic Nerve (uncredited)
Margarita Pidgeon	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Bob Smithson	....	contact lens technician (uncredited)
Greg Solomon	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Kimberley Spiteri	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Fiona Stiles	....	makeup artist: David Bowie (uncredited)

Production Management
Gregg Edler	....	production supervisor
Teresa Kelly	....	post-production supervisor
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production supervisor
Cristen Carr Strubbe	....	unit production manager
Mark Scoon	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan B. Curtiss	....	first assistant director
Jody Spilkoman	....	second assistant director
Cy Roscoe Strickland	....	additional second assistant director
Lynn Struiksma	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Scott Buckwald	....	property master
Erin Cipolletti	....	art department production assistant
Scott Doran	....	leadman (as R. Scott Duran)
Jared Fleury	....	assistant property master
Capella Kincheloe	....	art department production assistant
Jeanne Kukor	....	assistant property master (as Jeanne Marie Kukor)
Scott Lafferty	....	gangboss
Mark Lucero	....	set designer
Naaman Marshall	....	assistant art director
Joe Ondrejko	....	construction coordinator
Ledia Telo	....	construction estimator
Sally Thornton	....	set designer
Scott Zuber	....	set designer
Jory Alvarado	....	drapery foreman (uncredited)
Jason Bartolone	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Tonya Brewer Hunt	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Emily Crupper	....	set decoration buyer (uncredited)
J.P. Fitting	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Will Grant	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Brock Helfer	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
John Kelso	....	metal fabricator (uncredited)
Thomas D. Krausz	....	set dressing gang boss: Tesla (uncredited)
Tim R. Lafferty	....	construction gangboss (uncredited)
Amy Lamendola	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Phillis Lehmer	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Marc Meisels	....	set dressing gang boss (uncredited)
Paul Pastorelli	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Chris Patterson	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Mike Peritz	....	set dresser (uncredited)
James Pollack	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Jamie Rama	....	illustrator (uncredited)
Mark Richardson	....	props (uncredited)
Bret Ross	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Bennet Silver	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Toby Swinehart	....	paint gangboss (uncredited)
Robert H. Winn	....	paint foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jessy Bender	....	utility sound
Paul Berolzheimer	....	sound effects editor
Andrew Bock	....	first assistant sound editor
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Christopher Flick	....	foley supervisor
Linda Folk	....	adr supervisor
Eric Gotthelf	....	adr mixer
Kimberly Harris	....	adr editor
Lora Hirschberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard King	....	sound designer
Richard King	....	supervising sound editor
Jonathan Klein	....	foley editor
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer (as Maryjo Lang)
Michael W. Mitchell	....	sound effects editor
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (as Alyson Moore)
Scott Morgan	....	foley recordist
Ed Novick	....	sound mixer
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer (as Tom O'Connell)
Kurt Peterson	....	boom operator
Gary Rizzo	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gary A. Rizzo)
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Christopher Sidor	....	sound recordist (as Chris Sidor)
Carolyn Tapp	....	adr recordist
Hugo Weng	....	dialogue editor
Linda Yeaney	....	first assistant sound editor
Kevin Globerman	....	digital recordist (uncredited)
Bill Henderson	....	sound re-recording engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Blitstein	....	special effects coordinator
William Lee	....	special effects rigging foreman (as William D. Lee)
David Simmons	....	special effects set foreman (as David L. Simmons)
Mario Vanillo	....	special effects shop foreman (as Mario Vanilo)
Kirk Barton	....	special effects craft service (uncredited)
Greg Bryant	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Lenny Dalrymple	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Ruben Garcia	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Bruce Y. Kuroyama	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Arthur G. Schlosser	....	snow effects technician (uncredited)
John Vulich	....	special effects (uncredited)
Douglas D. Ziegler	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Florent Andorra	....	cg sequence supervisor: BUF
Florent Cadel	....	cg artist: BUF
Giacun Caduff	....	visual effects coordinator: BUF
Stephane Ceretti	....	visual effects supervisor: BUF
Melanie Cussac	....	visual effects coordinator: BUF (as Mélanie Cussac)
Robin Deledicque	....	cg artist: BUF
Olivier Dumont	....	associate visual effects supervisor: BUF
Laurens Ehrmann	....	cg artist: BUF
Vanessa Fourgeaud	....	visual effects producer: BUF
John Lee	....	visual effects editor
Eddy Moussa	....	cg artist: BUF
Laurent Panissier	....	cg artist: BUF
Clement Rambach	....	software development: BUF
Michel Samreth	....	cg artist: BUF
Scott Shapiro	....	visual effects producer
Vanesse Simon	....	visual effects producer: BUF (as Simon Vanesse)
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects consultant
Mathilde Tollec	....	cg artist: BUF
Olivier Dumont	....	on-set supervisor: BUF (uncredited)

Stunts
Joni Avery	....	stunt double: Olivia
Mike Avery	....	utility stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunt coordinator
Meegan Godfrey	....	stunt double: Julia
Steve Hart	....	stunt double: Cutter
David Hugghins	....	stunt rigger
Michael Hugghins	....	stunt rigger
Paul Lacovara	....	stunt double: Borden
Brian Machleit	....	stunt double: Angier Test
Rick Marcus	....	stunt double: Angier
Thom Williams	....	stunt warder

Camera and Electrical Department
Hans Bjerno	....	director of photography: Colorado aerial unit
Jose Deleon	....	camera technician: SpaceCam, Colorado aerial unit (as Jose DeLeon)
François Duhamel	....	still photographer
Rod Farley	....	best boy grip (as Roderick G. Farley)
Craig Fikse	....	steadicam operator
Ray Garcia	....	key grip
Antonio V. Garrido	....	dolly grip (as Tony Garrido)
Anthony Gaudioz	....	additional camera operator (as Tony Gaudioz)
Cory Geryak	....	chief lighting technician
Bob Hall	....	first assistant camera
Michael Herron	....	video assist operator
Peter Krouse	....	camera intern
Jerry L. Marshall	....	best boy rigging grip
Daniel C. McFadden	....	loader (as Dan McFadden)
Charlie McIntyre	....	rigging gaffer (as Charles H. McIntyre)
Blake Pike	....	rigging key grip
Philip Shanahan	....	second assistant camera
Cricket Sloat	....	rigging electric best boy
Larry Sushinski	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Stephen Vaughan	....	still photographer
Curtis A. Andrews Jr.	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Eric M. Davis	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Anthony Donati	....	rigging set lighting technician (uncredited)
Charles Ehrlinger	....	grip (uncredited)
Matt Floyd	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
David Fordham	....	grip (uncredited)
Michael Franco	....	electrician: fixtures (uncredited)
Michael Franco	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Sheila Greene	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Joe Guzman	....	grip (uncredited)
Jeffrey A. Johnson	....	grip (uncredited)
Christopher J. Lama	....	electrical rigging technician (uncredited)
Damon Liebowitz	....	electrician (uncredited)
Keith Morgan	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Dara Norman	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Jason Puliti	....	electrician (uncredited)
Cricket Sloat	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Mike Visencio	....	rigging set lighting technician (uncredited)
Paul Wilkowsky	....	grip (uncredited)
Brian Woronec	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer Cram	....	casting assistant
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Rich King	....	extras casting
Marlo Tiede	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anthony Almaraz	....	costumer
Shandra Beri	....	costumer
Tom Cummins	....	set costumer
Carrie Dacre	....	production assistant: costume department
Monica Haynes-Nino	....	costumer (as Monica Haynes)
Jose S. Hernandez	....	costumer (as Jose Hernandez)
Marci R. Johnson	....	costumer (as Marci Johnson)
Jo Kissack	....	costumer
April Krueger	....	costumer
Donna Marcione Pollack	....	costumer
Robert Q. Mathews	....	costume supervisor
Dennis McCarthy	....	costumer
Toni Kehaulani Reed	....	set costumer
Kenn Smiley	....	key costumer
Tricia Yoo	....	costumer
Michele Flynn	....	head costume ager/dyer (uncredited)
Christopher Koelsch	....	costumer (uncredited)
Michael Welch	....	costumer (uncredited)
Tim Wilson	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Charles Harrison	....	post-production assistant
John Lee	....	first assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Laura Rindner	....	assistant editor
Scott Wesley Ross	....	assistant editor
Mary Beth Smith	....	negative cutter: Buena Vista Negative Cutting
Donald Likovich	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Alex Gibson	....	music editor
Tom Hardisty	....	score recordist
David Hoskins	....	music programmer
Alan Meyerson	....	score mixer
Alan Meyerson	....	score recordist
Blake Neely	....	orchestra conductor
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Greg Vines	....	assistant engineer (as Gregg Vines)
Matthew J. Ward	....	technical assistant (as Matt Ward)
Booker White	....	music preparation: Walt Disney Music Library
Hans Zimmer	....	executive music producer

Transportation Department
Phil Helman	....	transportation local captain: Colorado (as Phillip W. Helman)
Maxwell R. Johnson II	....	transportation co-captain
Tommy Tancharoen	....	transportation coordinator
Tom Whelpey	....	transportation co-captain (as Tom Whelpley)
Ted Basso	....	production van driver operator (uncredited)
Audrey A. Conrad	....	transportation office coordinator (uncredited)
Robert Garcia Jr.	....	driver (uncredited)
Tim Whisenant	....	driver: Hugh Jackman (uncredited)
Dean Winton	....	driver (uncredited)
Bonnie Yamahiro	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jess Brackenburry	....	animal wrangler: cats (as Jesse Brackenbury)
Allan Bragg	....	stand-in: Mr. Caine (as Alan Bragg)
Jeffrey Caruso	....	assistant production coordinator
Jennifer Clark	....	first assistant accountant
Clayton Cogswell	....	production assistant
Jesse Cole	....	key assistant location manager
Jareth Costello	....	accounting clerk
Kim Crabb	....	key assistant location manager
Jeanie Daniels	....	post production accountant
Scott Davis	....	animal trainer: horses
Jim Dirker	....	helicopter pilot: Aircam National Helicopters, Colorado aerial unit
Colin Dunning	....	production assistant
Russ Fega	....	location manager
Beau Foster	....	production assistant
Meghan C. Fraser	....	wrangler: cats
Karen M. Fuchs	....	payroll accountant
Steve Gehrke	....	script supervisor (as Steven R. Gehrke)
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach: Mr. Bowie
Gregory D. Hemstreet	....	production accountant (as Greg Hemstreet)
Henry Humphreys	....	first aid
Andrew Jablonski	....	assistant accountant
Ricky Jay	....	technical advisor: magic
Nick LeClaire	....	production assistant: Colorado
Parker D. Lemire	....	production assistant: Colorado
Jim Lindsey	....	stand-in: Mr. Bale
Mike MacCuish	....	assistant accountant
Rob McCabe	....	stand-in: Mr. Jackman
Scott Michaels	....	production assistant: Colorado
Benjamin Morehead	....	assistant: Mr. Nolan (as Benjamin T. Morehead)
Guy Morrison	....	assistant location manager
M. Michelle Nishikawa	....	assistant: Mr. Schlissel
Craig Okeson	....	production assistant: Colorado
Anthony Penido	....	first aid
Katherine Pittman	....	wrangler: cats (as Cathy Pittman)
Jess Platt	....	dialect coach: Mr. Jackman
Erin A. Ramos	....	production secretary
Lawra Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Jackman
Lee Roeser	....	wrangler: cats
Joshua Scheer	....	production assistant
Peter Scheer	....	production assistant
Michelle Schrauwers	....	production assistant
Cheryl Shawver	....	animal trainer: cats, Animal Actors of Hollywood
Cody Smith	....	wrangler: horses
Jimmy Smith	....	craft service
Phil Smith	....	animal trainer: horses and birds, Phil Smith Animal Renters
Beatrice Springborn	....	assistant: Mr. Ryder
Cindy Taylor	....	production assistant (as Cindy A. Taylor)
Tim Territo	....	production liaison: Colorado
Amy Treadwell	....	stand-in: Ms. Johansson
Victoria Vopni	....	wrangler: horses (as Victoria M. Vopni)
Michael Weber	....	technical advisor: magic
Shawn Williamson	....	production assistant
Terrence B. Zinn	....	production assistant
Eric Binns	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ron Bottitta	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Doug Burch	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Brian Clark	....	rigging medic (uncredited)
Brian De Esch	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Alexandra Ducocq	....	executive assistant: hugh jackman (uncredited)
Rebecca Edelson	....	script clearance administrator (uncredited)
Lily Garcia	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Carolyn Harris	....	production executive (uncredited)
Patrick Holland	....	additional voices (uncredited)
Nicholas Hosking	....	adr voice group (uncredited)
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer (uncredited)
Matt Lombardo	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Peter Madamba	....	script researcher (uncredited)
Ossie Mair	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Erich A. Muller	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Skyler Ng	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jordan Schmidt	....	location scout (uncredited)
John Trujillo	....	layout board (uncredited)

Thanks
David Copperfield	....	the producers wish to thank
Derek DelGaudio	....	the producers wish to thank
Dan Sasaki	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presents)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
• Newmarket Productions (as Mewmarket Films)
• Syncopy

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2006) (worldwide) (all media) (non-USA)
• Buena Vista Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (also Blu-ray)
• Continental Film (2007) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2006-2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Karo Premiere (2007) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Newmarket Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2006) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2007) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2006) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A. (2007) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2007) (Greece) (DVD)
• GAGA (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Veronica (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (UK) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)

Special Effects

• BUF (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Aircam  helicopters: Colorado aerial unit (as Aircam National Helicopters)
• American Humane Association, The  animals monitored by: AHA 01155
• Animal Actors of Hollywood  animal trainer: cats
• Boston Museum of Science  the producers wish to thank
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutter
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes (as Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc.)
• Chef Robért Catering  caterer (as Chef Robert)
• Executive Assurance  security (uncredited)
• Global Entertainment Partners  post production services
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack available on
• Inflatable Crowd Company, The  inflatable mannequins (uncredited)
• Juniper Post  foreign dub (uncredited)
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision Remote Systems  camera equipment provided by
• Phil Smith Livestock  animal trainer: horses and birds (as Phil Smith's Animal Rentals)
• Princes Arms Hotel  the producers wish to thank
• Remote Control Productions Inc.  score mixed at
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility (uncredited)
• Spacecam Systems  aerial cameras provided by
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  score recorded at (as Todd AO Scoring Stage)
• Walt Disney Music Library, The  music preparation (as Walt Disney Music Library)
• audiomachine  advertising (uncredited)

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 Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | 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:

Borden's infant is played by one of director Christopher Nolan's children.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 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?

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Butterfly Etude

Oscar Alert 2006: ''The Prestige''

This is why I'm considering 2006 the best year for movies in this decade. When I think I've seen enough excellent movies, one more just pops out to stun me. Christopher Nolan has proved to everyone how he is a spectacular director. After the magnificent ''Memento'', he continued a great career with the great ''Imsonia'' and the thrilling ''Batman Begins''. Now, he defines his career with ''The Prestige'', a mysterious dramatic thriller that proves to be his best movie since ''Memento''. The story revolves around two starting magicians, Rupert Angier and Alfred Borden (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, respectively), who start a friendship that eventually turns into rivalry after Rupert's wife is killed in a magic trick that went wrong. After that, the two start trying to discover each other's secrets, and ruin their tricks. It all changes when Alfred discovers the ultimate trick: the Transported Man, a trick that will make Rupert lose his mind in order to decipher it. ''Prestige'' is not a movie for everyone. It has a great amount of twists and turns, and has the ability to leave people shocked and confused. It is a love it or hate it type of film- and that's exactly what I'm afraid of. This movie is one of the best movies of the year (behind ''The Fountain'' and ''The Departed''), and marks a new beginning to the career of those involved in it. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman give out powerful performances. One man is confident and cool, while the other one is just losing his senses. I can imagine no other actors to portray these characters. Scarlett Johansson provides another good performance, and Andy Serkis is a vital part to the movie. The film also features a solid performance of David Bowie, playing an expert in electricity. Michael Caine is worthy of praise here, delivering another great performance. The movie, technically, is brilliant. The period of time portrayed (Victorian Era, curiously also shown in another magic movie this year, the weak ''The Illusionist'') is taken to perfection. The costumes are great, effects are truly believable, and the photography is stunning. The script is groundbreaking, offering great solutions and stunning twists. No doubt about it, this movie will suffer of an evil that another brilliant movie, ''The Departed'', suffered this year: people will criticize its ending. If you ask me, it was brilliant. This is a dark movie, one that may give you creeps through your body. And I love it when a movie can give me this feeling. The pace of the movie is non-linear, and that gets in the way a bit. But it is, beginning from today, one of my favorite contestants to the Oscar. Sure, this is not an Academy type movie. But if the Academy takes the idea of honoring the best movies of the year, than this movie will be there. A movie with the power of becoming a cult classic, ''The Prestige'' is magical. In every sense of the word.---10/10