AT THE MOVIES WITH DILLON KIMMEL
In London in the early 1900s, many things were just coming into vogue. Chief among them was magic, as magicians of all types began springing up all over Europe, stunning crowds with their cleverly crafted tricks and illusions. In an effort to win the highest-paying crowd, magicians were constantly looking to outdo the other, sometimes with deadly consequences.
Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are just beginning to get their feet wet in the booming magic industry. Under the training of the magic “engineer” in London, Cutter (Michael Caine), the two are quickly learning to hone their skills. But when a trick goes terribly wrong, resulting in the death of Angier’s wife, a deep, bitter rift is established between the men that will last the length of their careers.
Angier is by far the better showman, using a combination of charisma and deception to wow his audiences. Because of this, he soon racks up exorbitant box-office receipts, but he is left with a distinct void: his wife, who he cannot stop mourning.
Borden, on the other hand, goes stiff when he steps on stage, making it difficult for his audiences to stay involved in the act. He and his new wife and child are constantly in poverty as he struggles to land a contract with a big-name theatre. But Borden is much more creative in the tricks he designs. Soon, despite his lack of stage presence, he garnishes attention simply because his magic is the best.
The bitterness between the two finally erupts. They begin trading blows, each taking a turn to sabotage the other’s show. But while Bolden backs off, Angier is just getting started. Angier obsesses over one of Bolden’s best tricks, calling it the best he has ever seen.
Intent on stealing the secret, Angier packs up and travels to America, where he hopes to track down the reclusive Nikola Tesla, (Davie Bowie) who Angier believes helped design Bolden’s mind-boggling trick. Tesla is years ahead of his time in the study of electricity, and eventually agrees to meet with Angier. Angier offers any sum of money for Tesla to design him an identical trick. Little does he know just how powerful the device he is asking for will be.
No one knows quite what to expect when Angier finally returns home with a new trick. But once the mysterious and mind-bending act is revealed, it becomes clear that the tables have turned. Angier has uncovered something that has never been seen before. And Bolden now must uncover the illusion behind what seems to be legitimate magic.
Are you watching closely? The opening line of The Prestige sets the tone for the rest of this intricately woven story of revenge and obsession. And moviegoers should take those opening four words to heart; this shifting corridor of mirrors always seems to have another trick up its sleeve.
Fueled by an ominous, dark mood and solid character performances by Bale, Jackman, and Caine, the film gives its viewers a devastating look into the outcome when rivalry turns into obsession. The plot is enticing from beginning to end, and its stream of consciousness tendencies only add to the intrigue.
The Prestige’s finale is easily its finest moment. For a movie that takes too long to develop and is fairly predicable until the final twenty minutes, the reveal is a surprise to say the least, leaving the viewers with a chilling realization and a sudden sense of closure.
The Prestige is a dazzling period piece that keeps its viewers guessing until the very end, then keeps them talking about it long after leaving their seats. It’s an unblinking look into what happens when obsession corrupts absolutely, and its final turn is one worth waiting for. 4 stars.
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