'The Prestige' is this
(English) Drama, Sci-Fi & Thriller movie combination. As usual dad brings these director specials, specifically movies not released in India. When dad told its a mix of the above said I was thinking whether to watch it or not. Being a Sunday and no work to do, I thought I would watch it. I had no other ways to fight my boredom.
Prelude: The movie is about friendship that became rivalry, a rivalry that became a battle.... All this for the cause of magic and illusion.
And the movie....The movie started of with an old gentleman showing magic to this little girl. He says "There are 3 parts to Every Magic Trick ... 1) The Pledge, 2) The Turn, and 3) The Prestige!"...... He does all the magic and brings out this bird from no where.... and says "are you watching closely baby?"
Well, the movie MUST b watched closely to understand the tricks and more tricks that you would least expect in the end.
The movie is about two close friends, Angier
(Hugh Jackman) a charismatic showman and Alfred Borden
(Christian Bale), gifted illusionist who work under a magician Cutter
(Michael Caine). During one of their shows Angier wife dies in a performance unexpectedly because the magic went wrong. Angier puts the blame on Borden cos he didn't tie the knot properly, which he was supposed to, that will save the magic!
After that, Borden moves away and performs his magic in the London. They both are obsessed with bringing out the best stage illusion. Angier tries to crack Borden secrets and Borden on the other hand tries not to tell the secret at any cost!! Angier is always seemed obsessed with Borden's performances which he thinks is brilliant but simple. He sends his assistant Olivia
(Scarlett Johnasson) to work for him and to find out his secrets. Borden appoints her and knows the truth as well. Olivia tells the truth after seeing Borden's work. She falls in love with him in spite of knowing Borden is married to Sarah
(Rebecca Hall).
These two women plays an important role in the film along with two men Fallow and Cutter. In one of Borden's show of '
The Transported Man' where the magician comes on the other side of the door immediately, without falling down quizzes Angier how he did that. Without the possible routes, how he did that 'real thingy' and not magic being involved.
He goes to all the famous magicians in the country and ends up in to this man to find out Borden's illusion. He buys this '
magnifying transmitter' from a magician named Tesla who duplicated the device after the rivalry with Thomas Edison
(Yes, the movie being shot at that early time!)Borden on the other hand acts as this 'super villain' role where he believes that 'My magic is original, and I won't let it known to others even at the cost of his closest'! The tricks done by Borden and his attempts to destroy Angier's magic is thrilling to watch.
As their rivalry becomes an obsession of deceit, they risk everything to become a great magician of all times. What happens in the end brings the movie to the end!
The climax is unusual, un-expected and super!! I am in loss of words. You just can't imagine that 'such' a thing would have happened. I just wished to have the brains of the director!Amazing...!!
The movie starts with showing Borden in jail. And the end shows the same with an unexpected turn in it.
Now I know why Cutter says in the beginning, '
are you watching closely'?
Cast:- Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier: An aristocratic magician with a talent for performance
- Christian Bale as Alfred Borden: A working-class magician with an understanding of magic
- Michael Caine as Harry "John" Cutter: The stage engineer who works for Angier
- Rebecca Hall as Sarah Borden: Borden's wife
- Scarlett Johnasson as Olivia Wenscombe: Angier's assistant
- David as Tesla: The real life inventor who creates a device for Angier
Epilogue:The movie is based on a book written by Christopher Nolan who is also the director of the film. He is best known for three movies
Memento (Our very own tamil film Ghajini!),
Batman series and
The Prestige! The movie was released in 2006(not released in India!!) and was nominated for two Oscars and won several other awards. I think everyone must watch it for the suspense and thrill that the movie creates. You just can't surely miss it! Though its a slight drama, as and when the movie goes am sure one would love to see what happens in the end. I swear I have not seen such a movie in my life time though I repeat the same when I see a director's special move!!But this is extra-ordinary! The actors are JUST BRILLIANT and have no words to appreciate them. Though there are only some 5 main roles, they have done a great job and the movie is FANTASTIC. I recommend all the readers of this blog to watch it!
sMiLeS, Shara :-)
