It's Friday again... Which means another FilmFriday recommendation! Today I'm going to review "The Prestige". Now this is one my favorite films and it comes from my favorite director of all time Christopher Nolan; who directed brilliant films like "Insomnia" and "Memento" but he is probably most famous for directing the Dark Knight franchise. I adore all of his films and I think he is a visionary for modern cinema and I believe this film does live up to his high standards. "The Prestige" is set in late 19 century Britain and America (in places) and it is portraying the careers of two magicians; Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale). So much happens in this film that it is hard to tell you a basic plot without revealing any twists (this film is FILLED with them). Basically these two young magicians start as friends but due to unseen events they become bitter rivals with the desire to see the other fail. Throughout this film these two characters are constantly trying to uncover each others secrets but in doing so they hurt the people around them. This film is filled to the brim the twists and turns from the very beginning, it is impossible to guess what will happen and the finale is so unpredictable and astonishing that the last scene left me speechless.
The acting in this film is good, nothing terrific but it is very good. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale are both good actors so I didn't expect anything less. On screen these two had great chemistry; they seemed to have a full understanding of everything the other one was doing I didn't think that Wolverine and Batman would work so well together. The supporting actors in this film are just as good as the stars; we have Micheal Caine as the mentor and best friend of Robert Angier and Scarlett Johansson as the leading love interest in the film. Both are class and do a very fine job.
However, a person does not watch this film for the acting a person watches this film for the mystery the secrecy and the challenge to guess what the hecks going to happen next. And this is mostly down to the fantastic script and direction. This movie was directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Christopher Nolan along with his brother Jonathon and they do an utterly breathtaking job. Christopher Nolan likes to try new and different methods when making a film and this is no different; the story is told in three different times the present, the past and the older past so if your going to watch this film (you should!) your going to have to "watch closely". This method of directing is misleading and confusing but intriguing at the same time much like a magicians performance and I think that's the impression the Nolan brothers were trying give.
Overall I love this movie and recommend it as a "must-see before you die"; I think it's a treat for anyone who can understand and follow it. Please watch it this weekend or any other time if you have the chance.
Oh and I watched Oz The Great and Powerful; I was going to review it but I have so few good things to say about it I shan't bother, if your under the age of 10 I think you might enjoy it but to be honest watch "The Croods" instead, that comes out today I think the 22nd and that looks like the better film all round.
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