The Prestige Review

ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED MOVIES.

Sir Nolan is known for defying expectations. Shocking everyone by not cashing in on the popularity of Batman Begins, he went ahead and made a relatively smaller movie about two magicians.

Like every Nolan movie, there's one emotion underlying all the drama. In the case of The Prestige, it's OBSESSION. One is obsessed with perfection(Borden), while the other one is obsessed with him(Angier). How it destroys everything they ever held dear forms the crux of the story.

In the ensemble, imo, Hugh Jackman walks away with the best honours. He got a meatier role.compared to Bale, and ups him constantly in most of the scenes. Bale once again shows is chameleon-like-transformation, transitioning from the angst filled Batman to a loving, aspiring (spoiler alert) dual. Scarlett Johansson isn't given much scope, so there's not much to talk about. Michael Caine is, well, Michael Caine. David Bowie deserves a special mention to bring into life the obscure genius Nikola Tesla.

David Julyan received a fair share of criticism for not upping his game to meet Nolan's perfectionism, and was the last collaboration between the two. I believe that was quite a harsh outburst. Though he could never come close to what Hans Zimmer would've done, it's not bad.

Like always expected from Sir Nolan, screenplay is the hero of the story. He structures the movie according to the story i.e. into three parts as shown in the beginning of the movie. The diary within a diary serves as a teaser for Nolan's later venture Inception, specifically a dream within a dream within a dream.

Overall, a must watch. And oh, do yourself a favour and take no spoilers. Spoilers are at their peak shape in Nolan's ventures, so stay away from them.