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The Prestige

It currently doesn't take much for a film to be financially successful, as depicted by Wild Hogs. Actors, atmosphere, story, relevant themes- all of these can come into play for a film's success. The Prestige represents a rare occasion when all of a film's elements come together as a cinematic experience that keeps you thinking after leaving the theater.

Based on the book by the same name (written by Christopher Priest), The Prestige follows the lives of two competing magicians, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale). That's all you're getting for a plot summary, beyond the fact that it takes place in London at the turn of the 20th century. If you think this just became a stuffy period piece, director Christopher Nolan would respond, "Piss off," as he doesn't allow the costumes and set design to get in the way of the story telling.

The greatest part of the film is its multiple themes that it doesn't try to tackle and make grand conclusions, but rather depict through the competition of the two magicians. The viewer is left to make their own decisions on whether one man is more right than the other, or rather if it even matters to be right in the end. The Prestige also plays with the politics of magic, from buying and stealing tricks, to the scientists that are admired as the "real magicians."

Bale and Jackman do a good job of men aiming at each other's throats while trying to maintain a normal family life. Michael Caine as Angier's stagehand, Cutter, steals the show, perhaps because he has the most convincing British accent. This is not so impressive considering he is a British born actor, but so is Bale. Scarlett Johansson plays Olivia Wenscombe, an assistant to the magicians, may be a sex object on (and off) screen, but also holds an air of independence uncommon to females in a movie lead by men.

Nolan adapted the screenplay along with his brother, Jonathan Nolan, and they successfully display the essential difference between plot and story. While the story is all the events that occur, the plot is the order in which they are told. Using the device of a diary, both magicians read about each other's private life, allowing the story to jump back in time whenever dramatically necessary.

While the wives and mistresses come and go throughout the 130 minute runtime, some viewers have complained that the film is too long. I cannot agree, as the story keeps moving. No time is taken to dwell on the thoughts and feelings of these men. Instead, the characters constantly act upon their feelings, ultimately building the suspense for the next magic trick.

It is impossible to avoid comparing the

The Prestige (released October 20, 2006) from it's competitor at the box office, The Illusionist (released September 1, 2006). Both films feature magicians in Europe at the end of the 19th century. That is the only connection (For a good comparison of other similar plotted films, see the Wikipedia list. The Illusionist is bubble-gum: simple, disposable, and ultimately tasteless. If you took a step back, the entire plot of The Illusionist fits nicely into 20 minutes of The Prestige. So there you have it. When walking down your aisle, you have a choice between simple and complex carbohydrates.

Special Features

The first of two parts of the special features is the The Director's Notebook: The Cinematic Sleight of Hand of Christopher Nolan. A behind-the- scenes look at the film has interviews with all of the major players of the film, from the lead actors and actresses, the director, screenwriter, customer designer, and the director of photography. With a 20 minute runtime, The Director's Notebook has a good amount of interesting commentary.

The second half of the features, The Art of The Prestige Gallery, falls flat of anything special. You get plenty of stills from the set, behind the scenes, costumes, and poster art. However, you cannot access these pictures on the DVD in a jpeg form, making them simple galleries.

The usual special features of deleted scenes and director commentary are nowhere to be found, and for a movie with so much going on, they are sorely missed.

Movie Grade: A
DVD Features Grade: B-

Overall Grade: A-