Movie Review: The Prestige

As a huge fan of Memento, Christopher Nolan’s amazing first movie, and more recently Batman Begins, it’s pretty surprising that I’d missed out on The Prestige – his most recent release. I’m glad to say that it was well worth the wait. The Prestige is visually stunning, full of twists and turns, stunning acting from a great raft of stars and a great story. Did I mention I liked it? I do. A lot.

The basic story follows two upcoming magicians, played by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, as they follow their careers together from young assistants to Michael Caine, a talented creator of new illusions, to creating their own new stage productions. Along the way there is an accidental death, which causes an obsessive rift between the two protaganists as they try and out do each other. This quest is the core of the story, but the truth in magic is never quite what it seems and as more is revealed you find yourself on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens. Like Memento, the timeline for the movie is wonderfully non-linear in a manner that Nolan handles masterfully. Add to this cameos from David Bowie as Nikolai Tesla and Andy Serkis as his assistant, as well as Scarlett Johansson and you have a visual and mental feast. I can’t recommend this movie enough – so go get it now, or ask for it for Christmas {:)