MSRP: £19.99
Film Review
Brimming with clever misdirection, The Prestige is one twist too many to be perfect Christopher Nolan, and the only fantasy for the otherwise grounded auteur.
The impressively structured tale follows two fellow magicians who, through tragedy, break apart and become dogged competitors to one another, desperate to one-up each other at any cost. Their best tricks are kept alluring, part of the narrative twists and turns, as Nolan works his own magic to draw you into this world of illusion, where the human sacrifice in the name of art and showmanship is really quite tragic. Ultimately, despite boasting some of the smartest unexpected surprises you'll ever come across, the resolutely grounded filmmaker (he's the same guy who made Batman seem plausible) takes something of a leap of faith with his final twist, going full steampunk horror fantasy. Some might find this the only time he's come close to actually cheating the audience, but even for those, it's undeniable that he capitalises on the emotional impact.
Stellar performances from Hugh Jackman and, in particular, then Batman Christian Bale - who does well to escape the cape - drive the piece, whilst a few Nolan regulars pop up (including the ever-present, and ever-reliable Michael Caine), but the palpable tragedy largely comes from the tremendous female contributions, with Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall providing fine early performances. Special mention also to the late David Bowie's fabulously enigmatic Tesla, a character who really needs his own film (and whose inventions deserved better due than the fantasy twist employed here). This is top tier Nolan storytelling, and even if it is a bit leftfield for the filmmaker, he makes the most of his skills with time and the ensuing twists he can pull off, channels his game cast into characters who are surprisingly dark and flawed, and keeps you gripped throughout.
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The Prestige Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
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