Review: The Prestige

[andrewducker]

We begin, of course, at the end.

And then, having seen just how bad things get, we rewind to the start and discover that they started off just as badly.

Assistants stride onto the stage, help out with a few tricks, and take their exits. Behind every trick is a technician, levering the mystery into place

Meanwhile, our two central characters, both heroes of their own stories, wave their hands in misdirection, causing appearances, disappearances and reappearances, oblivious to the price that even stage magicians must pay.

And when we get back to the end, past all of the various detours, distractions, sound and fury, we discover that, well, magic is exactly what we've been told it is, sometimes death can kill you, and sometimes it can set you free.

===

It hardly seems worthwhile telling you that Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, David Bowie and a host of others give fantastic performances. Good enough that one of the people I was with didn't recognise David Bowie at all.

Or that the Nolan brothers manage to one-up their previous collaboration Memento by presenting a film which, if anything, jumps around in time more, while remaining perfectly comprehensible and remains a mystery simply because we're never quite looking at the clues right in front of us.

There wasn't, in fact, an instant, when I wasn't glued to the movie, trying to work out how it was done. But as one of the characters remarks in the film, if you tell people how a trick is done they aren't impressed - it's the misdirection that keeps them coming back for more.

9/10

Comments

[draconid.livejournal.com]

Nice review. :) I reviewed this on my site yesterday and gave it 4.5/5 .. great mind think alike, or something. Definitely one of the best films I've seen in a while, although I felt it was a little slow to start with.

[andrewducker]

Can't see your review - where is it?

[draconid.livejournal.com]

The review's on my website which is very much a work-in-progress and in the process of being moved .. at the moment it's at http://www.draigwen.com/joomla/ - there's a box with latest reviews on the right-hand-side. There are a few silly typos I've got to fix in it when I get the chance so bear that in mind!

[andrewducker]

Strangely, when I go look at that review it lets me see the first few lines, and then the rest vanish in some way.

I'm using IE6 at work - I'll try Firefox at home.

[angelevie.livejournal.com]

I too loved this film...I too did a review last week

One of my collegues saw this at the weekend - and went on about how cool it was all morning :D

[kashandara.livejournal.com]

Might go and see it at the weekend, not decided yet but everyone seems to like it so far so that's as good a reason to go get myself an opinion as any.

Oh and...

It has magicians in it! I didn't want to know that!!! Damn you!1!!one1!!eleventyone!

The Prestiege

[hedley-007.livejournal.com]

Well the film has previewed in London so as soon as it comes to my local cinema I will speed there in my little car. I have been facinated by the trailers and Michael Caine and Hugh Jackman interviews on the TV - and he gave us a slight of hand magic trick with the cameras hovering over his hands to catch him out - they didn't.

There was a review that he could be a contender for an oscar for his performance. And his co-stares Caine and Bale think he is a great guy - I think I will go along with that. When I have seen it I will let you know how I liked it. Thank you for you great review.