By Andrew Benjamin
“Man’s reach exceeds his grasp,” a soft-spoken Nikola Tesla tells Rupert Angier, a magician searching for the ultimate illusion. Fortunately, The Prestige doesn’t suffer from the same overreaching ambition. The film is engaging from start to finish, blending elements of the thriller and fantasy genres together effortlessly.
Two rival magicians, Borden & Angier (Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman respectively) are constantly trying to one up another in their illusions. When Borden discovers what is possibly the ultimate illusion, Angier sets off to find the out how the trick is performed, but at a high cost.
The greatest aspect of the film is its characters, which are portrayed as people instead of one-dimensional cutouts. Neither Christian Bale nor Hugh Jackman play their character as an antagonist or protagonist, incorporating the same faults that befoul average people in their everyday lives. The audience will not be able to pinpoint the true nature of these characters, which helps keep the film interesting.
Michael Caine is once again excellent in his role as a veteran magician. He brings a genuineness and sincerity to his role with his classic paternal qualities.
Scarlett Johansson (who seems to be in everything recently) plays Olivia, Angier’s assistant. She is very good in her role and nails the English accent quite well. David Bowie as the inventor Nikola Tesla perhaps will surprise the audiences the most. In one of his few dramatic roles, Bowie is subdued and poised.
Christopher Nolan has the ability to tell a story quite well without the use of a strictly linear narrative form. The film goes back and forth between the past and present continuously but gives enough time to both to hold our interest. He also successfully melds the historical time period with a story-book like feeling of fantasy, giving the film a magical tone.
Cinematographer Wally Pfister, who has worked on three other films by Nolan, should be given an Oscar for his beautiful imagery. While his interior lighting and staging is good, his exteriors shots are magnificent. The scene that stands out most is when Angier and an assistant of Tesla’s are standing outside on a field. Light bulbs stuck into the ground light up the whole scene with a beautiful fluorescent hue, giving it the look of a painting.
The Prestige is overall an amazing film. With great complex characters, an engaging story, and top notch acting, the film has a lot going for it. Come Oscar time, this will be one film that will definitely be a shoo-in for some nominations.
GRADE: A
