The Prestige: Review By NickScottGuyer

Whether he’s flying high above Gotham city or conjuring captivating magic, Christopher Nolan has proved to be one of the most ingenius directors of the new age. Nolan’s new film, The Prestige deals with two magicians, Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), who become rivals after a magic trick goes wrong. Each illusionist attempts to out-perform the other with skilled trickery and magical apprehensions. Both are determined to uncover the secrets of the others magic tricks, and transform them into something better. As these two fight it out, they come to find out that the obsession of uncovering one another’s secrets has consumed them and may make them disappear.

The plot of this film is work of pure brilliance. Christopher Nolan delivers the powerful novel to the silver screen with the help of extraordinary actors such as Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johanson, and Michael Caine. Both Jackman and Bale deliver top-notch performances that will send viewers back into the Victorian era. Jackman portrays the man who is loosing his mind trying to decipher Alfred’s secrets. Opposite of Jackman, Christian Bale portrays a man who is confident and relaxed but does not have the stage presence that Rupert has. I cannot envision any other actors to portray these two superior gentlemen. Scarlett Johanson is a satisfactory actress for this role. I didn’t strictly connect with the emotional investments that she conveyed. Scarlett was a marvel to behold in the Black Dahlia, but in The Prestige she is an adequate character. Having been in Nolan’s Last Film Batman Begins, Michael Cainecomes to us as a guide of magicians and guide to both Alfred and Rupert. Caine acts remarkably profound in this film. Caine delivers that bit of illusion that tricks the mind and makes audiences gasps in amazement for his intellectual composure. The special effects in this film are unbelievable. The Transported Man act deals with a great arrangement of shocking electricity that courses through the stage. When shown in the film this effect will cause you to jump out of your seat. Very few films get noticed by their use of sounds. The Prestige delivers direct and bone chilling sounds that will launch your mind into the unnatural. The finale holds a twist ending that will shock you and send you into astonishment.

This film is as fantastic as it looks. I give Christopher Nolan a hand for delivering a shocking and paranormal film that not only overshadows The Illusionist but truly causes you to admire the kind of smart storytelling this film delivers. I would strongly recommend this movie to everyone. I strongly caution parents on taking children, as some scenes may be too loud and frighten them. The Prestige is a work of magic that never disappears.