The Prestige : Movie Review

Masterful story telling, superb direction & powerful performances is The Prestige

Director : Christopher Nolan

Cast : Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Andy Serkis, Piper Perabo & David Bowie.

Hugh Jackman

   Adapted from Christopher Priest's novel of the same name, The Prestige is a masterful exercise in story telling with superb direction and powerful performances by a grand ensemble cast. From set and production design to cinematography, from script to presentation, Christopher Nolan has over again established the fact why he is one of the world's brightest and  powerful directors. The Prestige only helps solidify his standing as one of the landmark directors of his generation as he proves this flick to be a perfect portrayal of Story telling at its best!!!

Christian Bale

    The Prestige is a narrative that jumps between various points along its time line, playing out like a magic act itself, describing the story of two magicians on the rise in their careers. The first played by Hugh Jackman; a master showman who is more entertaining than methodological.  The second played by Christian Bale; a gifted talent in understanding the basics of any trick, however lacks showmanship.

Michael Caine

    The Prestige is a journey of two friends who become rivals, and shows how their rivalry turns into a battle. It portrays a tragic series of events pits the two performers counter each other in a battle of wits that drills further and further out of control, consuming both of them and everything and everyone they care about. With a story that requires actors with a great deal of emotive range, Nolan has assembled what could be described as a dream cast. Both Jackman and Bale suit their respective roles entirely, and pitting these two performers against each other was a stroke of casting genius. Michael Caine takes what could have been a forgettable role by any lesser actor and heightens it with his demanding screen presence. Probably the most surprising performance comes from David Bowie whose unforgettable turn as master physicist Nikola Tesla absolutely shines. Add Andy Serkis to the mix, and what is assembled is a group of performers who know how to fully engage the audience. Scarlett Johansson makes her presence felt in every frame she appears. Piper Perabo is beautiful as ever. The emotional setback hits the spectators via the character of Rebecca Hall.



Scarlett Johansson

     The Prestige is hard to be labelled into any specific genre as it walks the fine line between mystery, drama, suspense and fantasy. In that, the story becomes a relentless stream of wonder for the mind. One can never tell particularly where the story is going to lead next, evolving more and more as time goes on. This gives Christopher Nolan ample opportunity to play with the plot, the protagonists & the supporting cast. And play he does. With narration by several characters, each adding their own viewpoint to the events, and with a direction that moves between time to mystify and distract the spectators. The end result is a climax that itself is a series of puzzles, each unfolds alluringly. In the end, the Prestige is a fantastic display of what can be relinquished when you bring together superior talent. 

       I would delightfully go with a 4.5 out of 5 for Nolan's cinematic beauty. It is certainly one of the best screenplay show of all time, and my favourite too. After all it is worth the price of admission and as good as any magic show you are to come across, but what you will find in The Prestige is not simply magic, but something real. Are you watching closely asks the film as you lure to watch this tale over and over again!!!



Official Poster



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