“Are you watching closely?”

The Prestige

I was very close to be disappointed. I knew beforehand what the movie was all about, who the actors are and what I might expect from the director that gave us Batman Begins (brilliant) and Memento (I need to watch this). No, the reason why I was almost disappointed was because I had to sit three rows from the bloody screen. I was afraid that the discomfort of having to crane my neck to watch the movie would have clouded my final judgement. In fact, I was so engrossed that by the end of it I didn’t notice the soreness until after the credits rolled. Now that’s a sign of an enjoyable movie.

Before I move on, I would like to ask when was the last time a mainstream movie actually made you dumbfounded in the beginning but when all is revealed at the end, you sit back, take a deep breath and say, “Shit, how could I been so dumb?”

The Prestige is just that. I know many are going to watch this simply because of ole adamantium claws, and everyone’s favourite Aussie, Hugh Jackman is in this. But you’re in for a surprise as he gives quite possibly his best performance in a movie yet. Forget about the campy fun of Van Helsing or the for ever cantankerous and never out of a catchy one-liner Wolverine, Jackman delivers the goods as a charismatic and tormented magician. There’s also the incredibly intense and engaging Christian Bale who almost single-handedly revived the Batman franchise after the disastrous outing by the swaggering and cocky George Clooney. Throw in Michael Caine who’s becoming the Welsh version of Morgan Freeman, who gives the movie that light touch to a very heavy script the much needed compassion and empathy. Featuring a notable supporting cast the movie is not short on talent. It has enough intrigue to pique even the most hardened whodunits lover who thinks he knows it all. And who wouldn’t want to solve a mystery about the tricks and secrets that make up a magician’s life?

It begins where it ends. I for one love this method of storytelling; I know the end but how? And couple this with the story being simultaneously told by the two main protagonists, the effect is that it keeps on building and building the suspense till the shocking revelations. Of course, if the plot becomes too convoluted or sidetracks then all is for nought. I’ve watched many a movie where the end revealed only disappointment. The Prestige cleverly avoids these pitfalls while still teasing the viewer’s intelligence and perceptiveness throughout the course of the movie. While it may be slightly draggy at parts, it never loses focus on the prize: and that is to see who can perform the greatest magic trick ever.

It is also a story about the effects of obsession, the ultimate sacrifice, and what would you do to get your hands dirty. What was once done out of passion is now done out of pure greed and malice. Each magician tries to outdo each other, at first simply by trying to replicate the tricks. Easy but still no good. Time to up the stakes. With each becoming more and more successful the dirtier they are willing to learn each other’s secret, the prestige. Bale is undoubtedly the most talented, though not as good selling his show while his dedication to the art sometimes pushes his loved ones away. Jackman is the better of the two when it comes to performing. He is charming, suave and eventually is consumed from within when a tragedy occurs. He transforms into this cold and callous man fuelled by the one thing that has caused him so much joy and pain: secrets. Caine at first appears like any other old man; experienced, knows the trade inside out and acts as the voice of reason to Jackman but he has a trick up his sleeve. Bale is calculative and cunning and yet never calm. In the end you’re rooting for everyone and no one.

The pace is kept at a comfortable speed, with the scenes going back and forth to reveal bits and pieces. You can’t be complacent, you have to keep your senses focused because just when you thought you had it the movie drops another mystifying plot twist. I watched it without wanting to overanalyse it, I wanted to be surprised and slap my forehead at the simplicity and genius of it at the end. I still am.

This is one of those movies where there’s no second time watching it. Well maybe not so soon but it’s one that you have to really think back and remember what you saw. Only then will you peel away the layers, and marvel at the brilliant script. It’s also one movie where a sequel is totally out of the question. I mean, what are they going to call it? The Prestige 2: The Return of Scarlett Johansson’s Décolletage?

You really should have been watching closely…