| Overall Grade: |
C |
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| Story: |
C |
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| Acting: |
B- |
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| Direction: |
C |
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| Visuals: |
B |
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Trying To Be Too Clever
by Jersey Joe (movies profile)
Apr 25, 2008
12
of
18 people found this review helpful
There's two things I really don't like; one is magic and two is films that go for cheap surprises. The Prestige offers both.
The story centers around two magicians that begin as apprentices and quickly develop into hated rivals. Christian Bale plays the more daring magician, while Hugh Jackman plays the more effective showman. The rivalry is brutal as the two men stop at nothing to destroy each other.
Both lead actors play obsessed men in different ways and are effective toward that end. However, they fail at making us give a damn about them as people. The scenes where they interact with the people they are suppose to care about are unconvincing. Why Scarlett Johannsen took a role in this film is a mystery to me. She really brings nothing to the role as there is nothing to bring. Michael Caine is reliably solid as Hugh Jackman's mentor and David Bowie is a perfect choice as Nikola Tesla.
Like a magician, the film is deceptive in an attempt to entertain. It uses a flashback narrative of a flashback narrative to tell its story. Every ten minutes the director (Christopher Nolan) seems to be saying "Aha!" or in more subtle moments "I'll bet you didn't see that one coming." Some of these little surprises are obvious and some are just dishonest, either way, it makes for an annoying film going experience. |
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