Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

The Prestige
2006
***
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, Piper Perabo, Andy Serkis, Rebecca Hall

The long-running professional and private rivalry between two Victorian stage magicians ends in tragedy. Robert Angier is killed during his own show and Alfred Borden is arrested for the murder. The flashbacks reveal how it all ended like this, but as it's a Christopher Nolan film, things are never as straightforward as they seem. The late 19th century setting is beautifully recreated, the performances are strong, and the script is a beautifully constructed puzzle, but it all falls flat when I don't really care about either of the two main characters. The title refers to the climax of a magic trick, and the prestige of this elaborate deception disappointingly involves some actual magic. Adapted from Christopher Priest's novel.