The Prestige (2006)

The Worst Film Ever

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The Prestige is a great film by Christopher Nolan and it will take you probably more sittings than one to figure everything out. Strange that this came out the same year as the other film on magicians The Illusionist but I feel this one is a slightly better movie. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale play rival magicians who will go to any length to get the better of the other. The performances are good. The film is long but you wont feel so and the cinematography and production design are top notch.

Don't get me wrong, the movie is amazing, it's well directed, the scenes are flawless, the magic is incredible, but it was far from what I had expected which is what perhaps left me filled with negative affections towards the film.After watching Dunkirk and Inception by the same, amazing director of The Prestige- Christopher Nolan- I expected something brilliantly made, and it is. It is fantastically made and the movie looks amazing.The issues with the film I have, lie within the characters. I didn't feel as though there was much growth in these characters. Angier and Borden both seem the exact same at the beginning of the film towards the end.I like Angier at the start of the film, not like Borden as much, and ended the movie not liking either of them. The only character I really cared about was the character played by Scarlett Johansson who's character name I don't really care to remember.I just felt like neither of the two main leads developed or changed. Angier was bitter from beginning to end, and Borden just grew to become bitter and I can't stand the fact that they do have any redeeming qualities in my eyes.The movie was enjoyable other than this, and I will continue to watch Christopher Nolan's films in the future, as he is talented. However, so hope his future films involve more character growth and have qualities that make them likeable that aren't outweighed by bad qualities.

'The Prestige (2006)' is a movie about illusions that manages to pull off quite a few of its own, with Nolan competently using cinematic techniques as a form of slight-of-hand. It cryptically tells you its many twists in its opening moments yet still manages to surprise with them. Yet, beyond the twists and turns lies a layered narrative centred around two well-crafted characters, one that impacts emotionally as well as intellectually. It is often forgotten amidst the plethora of Nolan's other work, but it sits just as highly as them and is, in my book, even a little underrated. 8/10

To achieve a prestige, you need an utter self-sacrifice.