Review: The Prestige (2006)

THE PRESTIGE
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)

CAPSULE: Toward the end of the 19th century two
rival stage magicians compete and battle for
dominance. This is a thriller, an education in
stage magic, a mystery, and even a bit of a
science fiction film. Christopher Priest's novel
is brought to the screen by co-writer and
director Christopher Nolan in a wonderful screen
adaptation. This is a film that may be more
enjoyable on the second viewing once you know its
secrets. Rating: +3 (-4 to +4) or 9/10

"Are you watching closely?"

In London near the end of the 19th Century two stage magicians,
once friends, carry on a deadly rivalry. The cause is
professional competition and an escalating ladder of revenge for
believed wrongs. At the center of the controversy is one stage
illusion and the attempts to perform it. The trick gives the
illusion that the performer is instantly transported from the
stage to another part of the theater (like something from THE
FLY). The film is told in flashback after the death of one of
the feuding magicians, Robert Angier (played by Hugh Jackman),
apparently murdered by his nemesis Alfred Borden (very
effectively played by Christian Bale).

The film then traces the relationship of these two one-time
friends and concurrent apprentices to a veteran illusionist
Milton (a cameo by Ricky Jay) and his designer called just Cutter
(Michael Caine). With reckless ambition Borden is convinced,
somewhat justifiably, that he is a great magician. Then perhaps
unintentionally in one quick stroke he destroys Angier's life and
Milton's career. From there an epic feud starts. Angier is
suave and looks really good in front of an audience, but he is
second rate at inventing new illusions. Borden is brilliant but
lacks the panache to exploit it. Between them they could make
the perfect stage illusionist. Instead they want each other out
of the way, but even more than that they want the secret of each
other's tricks.

The feud will embroil the stage assistant Olivia Wenscombe
(Scarlett Johansson) who will be the confidante to both men
consecutively. It will also involve a real wizard--not one of
fiction--the great engineer Nikola Tesla (played with surprising
Eastern European charm by David Bowie), who may have his own
electrical magic, and who is himself involved in a historic
parallel feud with Thomas Alva Edison.

The hostility between Angier and Borden, a study in obsession,
will be dangerous to both. The life of a stage illusionist often
ends in sudden death. The tightness of a knot or the placement
of a prop can mean the difference between life and death. A
button falling into the wrong place can be deadly. Another
magician can turn a stage performance into an undetectable
murder. And the coveted secrets of tricks can be the motive for
murder. A magician's audience can be unaware that they are
witnessing a deadly battle.

"Are you watching closely?"

Through some of the script may seem to be only slowly advancing
the plot, that is part of the illusion. Between Christopher
Priest's plot from the novel and Jonathan and Christopher Nolan's
adaptation, little if anything is wasted in the plot or dialog.
On a second viewing many of the lines of dialog will take on
whole new meanings. A second viewing may well be a very different
experience than a first viewing. As a bonus, along the way this
film is as much an education about the stagecraft of legerdemain
as MASTER AND COMMANDER was of early 19th century seafaring.

Two films on the subject of late 19th century stage magic being
released only weeks-apart invites comparison. The film THE
ILLUSIONIST also deals with stage magic about the same period.
THE PRESTIGE is a somewhat longer film, but it is considerably
more intricate and more satisfying. THE PRESTIGE is taken from a
very good book, but where the Nolan brothers have deviated from
the book they have worked their own magic. Both films include
plot elements that were impossible for the period. THE PRESTIGE
is honest in its fantasy elements and THE ILLUSIONIST is not. I
thing that gives THE PRESTIGE another edge. I recommended THE
ILLUSIONIST a few weeks ago, and I still do, but in many respects
it pales next to THE PRESTIGE. I rate this complex and clever
puzzle story a +3 on the -4 to +4 scale or 9/10.

Mark R. Leeper
mleeper.TakeThisOut@optonline.net
Copyright 2006 Mark R. Leeper