Date: 2006
Director: Christopher Nolan
Actors/Characters: Hugh Jackman/ Robert Angier,Christian Bale/ Alfred Borden,Michael Caine/Cutter, Piper Perabo/ Julia McCullough, Rebecca Hall/ Sarah Borden, Scarlett Johansson/ Olivia Wenscombe
Summary: Two stage magicians engage in competitive one-upmanship in an attempt to create the ultimate stage illusion.
Review
The Prestige is a film about fame, revenge and illusion. Christopher Nolan blurs the lines between fantasy and reality whilst presenting the audience with two morally grey characters. The performances, visuals and narrative were excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film.
Set in Victorian London (predominantly) the visuals of The Prestige were wonderfully gothic and glamourous. All the costumes were just phenomenally designed and time appropriate, I particularly loved the outfits worn by the magician's assistants. The sets/ locations as well were stunning, the theatres were grand and elegant and I loved the research facility in Colorado also because of its mystery and uncertainty. Of course, with The Prestige being a Nolan film the cinematography was also excellent.
The film opens with the mid-point of the narrative which I thought was a really interesting way of structuring it. I think this unconventional narrative structure worked well with the tone of the film as it helped add an increased sense of intrigue and wonder. I spent the whole first half wondering how the course of events I was witnessing would lead to Robert drowning in a tank.
I really enjoyed the darkness and treachery of this film, going into it I did not expect it to be as riddled with corruption and villainy as it was but I loved it! Seeing the transition from Robert and Alfred being partners and then turned into mortal enemies was enthralling. It made me question what was justified and what wasn't in their battle for power and fame and it was interesting that that was a decision for the audience themselves to make. It was shocking to watch how far the pair were willing to go to outsmart each other, for example when Robert shot off Alfred's fingers and when Alfred tampered with the bird cage so it sliced through a woman's hands. I think the most interesting and gripping part of these two men was how they weren't naturally evil but through circumstances and a desire to be the best they descended to wrong doing and villainy. When you really think about this entire film was about the lines between good and evil and in fact I think the only good person in the film was Cutter.
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