I knew that when I rented The Prestige I would be in for a great acting performance from Christian Bale as well as Michael Caine. Little did I know how impressed I would be with Hugh Jackman and, yes, even Scarlett Johansson. Take into account also the fact that this is a Christopher Nolan directed movie, and if it were anything like his masterpiece Memento, I could easily imagine that this would be one of those movies that leaves you talking about it with your spouse even hours after you’ve seen it.
And indeed it didn’t disappoint.
Ahh, where to begin. Well, Christopher Nolan for starters. As is his usual on-screen signature, the color palette in this film is effective, lending itself very well to this great period piece. His incredible use of dark, non-primary colors along with a hue that screams out of the late 1800’s is impressive. Another Nolan trademark is his healthy dose of flashback in his films, though in The Prestige the constant “jumping arond” made it rather confusing to adhere to the chronological timeline.
The storyline is a large part of the success of this film. It’s truly an insider’s look at the world of magic, or sleight of hand I should say. The Prestige will get you personally invested in the plot through a slow but methodical education process about the world that these very magicians live in.
And then there’s the acting. Bravo!
Christian Bale was excellent (as always), bringing to life the hard-to-read exterior of a ruthless magician, while showing us occasional glimpses of his human side. Then there’s Hugh Jackman, who capitalized on his theater-trained background to deliver a stellar performance.
Michael Caine’s role was perfect for him; his performance a perfect marinade for the storyline much as was the case when he played Alfred in Nolan’s Batman Begins. And yes, even Johansson, sporting a decent British accent, didn’t get in the way and was effective as a magician’s helper.
Granted there are numerous plotholes in The Prestige, much as there would be with any suspenseful whodunnit. But make no mistake, you’ll find yourself thinking about each character’s every step - long after the movie is over. This movie is rather long (139 minutes), but you won’t care after you see it.
The Prestige is definitely worth seeing.
Grade: A-
