Cinema - The Prestige

Every Victorian magic trick had three parts. First came ‘The Pledge’ in which the magician showed the audience something seemingly ordinary. Then came ‘The Turn’ in which the ordinary became extraordinary. Finally, ‘The Prestige’ in which the trick occurred and, after a number of unexpected twists and turns, something awe-inspiring shocked the audience. This film, directed by the excellent Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins) uses this three-act framework as the structure of its narrative. And like a good trick, it works, leaving you guessing how the filmmakers could possibly have pulled it off. Nolan sets the film, based on a novel by Christopher Priest, in turn-of-the-century Victorian London. Two magicians, Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, start out as colleagues but end up as bitter rivals after a botched trick leads to the death of Bale’s wife, for which he blames Jackman. As the two magicians become more famous, a competitive one-upmanship between the two ensues, with deadly consequences.

The film does not leave you rooting for a ‘good’ character over a ‘bad’ one: it is far too sophisticated for that. Instead it leaves you wondering what the hell is about to happen. It’s a brilliant tense thriller with some superb acting in it. Michael Caine plays a significant role, and there’s a great cameo from David Bowie, as well. The film starts with the words ‘Are you watching closely’ and if you want to work out the ending before it happens all the clues are in place to do so. DL