Movie Review – The Prestige (2006 – United States)
Hugh Jackman & Michael Caine in The Prestige
I have to admit—by way of disclaimer—that I had to watch this film twice in order to figure out the plot. But this was not because the story is poorly told (it's wonderfully told) or that the script or acting is bad (all are top notch), but purely because Hugh Jackman is so damned gorgeous that the first time through, I simply sat in (contented) slack-jawed wonder.
Watch this intriguing mystery right now:
Watch the trailer:
The lady in love with magic: Scarlett Johansson in The Prestige
David Bowie (as Nikola Tesla), Hugh Jackman, Andy Serkis in The Prestige
Once you get past that (not that you'll want to), you get to the really good part—the mystery and magic of visual storytelling that rises above Hollywood blather and becomes a true work of art. The hand-held camera follows the characters through the maze of Victorian London and a world of intentional illusion, and we are slowly allowed to penetrate the darkness and watch the plot unfold. The foreshadowing of that plot—and it's a twisty and twisted one, no doubt about it—is handled splendidly, with the grace of a Christopher Nolan, a film maker who actually assumes that his audience is SMART! Imagine that. So. You're a smart person. You'll like this movie. 'Nuff said.
Highly recommended, but only if having to think about a movie is okay with you.
Copyright © Roberta Lee 2012. All rights reserved.
(I am an artist and the author of the Suburban Sprawl series of novels as well as two nonfiction books. Find out more about my work at RobertaLeeArt.com.)
Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hr. 10 min.
In Theaters: Oct 20, 2006
On DVD: Feb 20, 2007
Box Office: $53.0M
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Cast:
Hugh Jackman - Robert Angier
Christian Bale - Alfred Borden
Michael Caine - Cutter
Scarlett Johansson - Olivia Wenscombe
David Bowie - Tesla
Rebecca Hall - Sarah
Andy Serkis - Alley
Samantha Mahurin - Jess