The Prestige (Christopher Nolan, 2006)

Movie Review

Only a year after surprising audiences with his critically and popularly acclaimed reboot of the once-doomed Batman franchise, director Christopher Nolan returns with a gritty, fast-paced and twist-laden sci-fi mystery-drama starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. 

The plot revolves around two magicians in turn-of-the-century London, Robert Angier(Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden(Christian Bale) who become rivals after an irreplacable loss befalls one of them.Their rivalry makes them enemies for life, leading to tragic consequences and jeopardizing the lives of everyone around them. 

The story appears to be an interesting study of the great extent to which an individual can get affected by the loss,guilt and travesty that life offers him.Nolan delivers this message by setting as the central characters of his story, two individuals who have always lived among lies, tricks and cut-throat competition, and whose professions are shrouded in mystery.Hence it seems ironical that the same individuals who once dreamed of mastering the tricks of their trade ,should become slaves of themselves, deceived by the very lies and tricks that they once thrived on.The movie then focuses on the brutal measures that the rivals resort to, successfully confusing the audience morally.The film too,like the characters and their various relationships, is dynamic:it moves, smoothly and effortlessly, from drama to mystery to raw sci-fi. 

Bale and Jackman are terrific as the two protagonists(or antagonists, if you may).Each manages to get into his character with ease.Michael Caine is perfect as the very loyal, but morally and ethically sensitive backstage engineer. 

Nolan's trademark and Not-so-unfamiliar filming techniques succeed in making their presence felt:the non-linear and complicated yet, expertly constructed timeline, the frequent use of the telephoto lens that makes his characters and their dynamic relationships stand out, and, most importantly, the ingenious and metaphoric foreshadowing that preceeds many of the tragic incidents in the movie. The Low-key Lighting adds a melancholic feel to the movie. 

In the end, The Prestige is an excellent study of the characters it portrays, and the anguish , desperation and vengeance that drives them.To some, however,the complex narrative of the story might prove to be confusing and convoluted.