The Prestige - A

On DVD. 130 minutes. Rated PG-13.

Against any plausible odds, two movies came out this past year starring Victorian magicians. The other, The Illusionist, was okay and already reviewed on this site. This one, however, is truly great. I watched it in the theatre originally (with Lawyer, actually) and truly enjoyed it, but the second viewing really opened it up for me. Directed by Christopher Nolan who co-wrote with his brother Jonathan, this marks an impressive string for these siblings who also worked together on Memento (A) and Batman Begins (B+). Christopher also directed the English version of Insomnia (B+) during that time. The direction by Christopher here is flawless. While he continues to play with chronology, the structure of this film mirrors the structure of a magician's trick. The pledge, which is the set-up; the turn, in which an ordinary objects does something extraordinary (such as disappear); and the prestige, in which the original object is brought back or restored. The film comes back repeatedly to particular images and themes (a bird in a cage, the necessity of death or sacrifice to pull off a big trick, what happens to the pledge while the prestige is taking the bows) to bring continuity to the film and remind you, gnawingly, that a filmmaker of this power isn't going to go through this much trouble just to entertain you.

The plot is as follows. Two magicians, both well-played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, have a rivalry which, due to the accidental death of Jackman's wife in an underwater trick in which Christian Bale was involved, turns sinister. Bale's character marries, driving Jackman to jealousy and violent attempts at retribution for the death of his own wife. As the rivalry escalates and becomes more deadly, both men risk more and more in an attempt to best the other. Eventually death and even their souls are not off limits. The twists are constant but never cheap. And the ending, or endings more like it, have so many dimensions and enough open question that I'm still not sure what all transpired.

The cast is superb. Michael Caine narrates and figures heavily in the plot as a designer of illusions. Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly?) does a pretty good job as Bale's depressed and confused wife. David Bowie is here as well as eccentric American inventor Tesla (wikipedia that dude, and, yes, the rock band is named after him), and Andy Serkis (Gollum) has a nice turn as his assistant.

What really sticks with you after this, though, are the recurring images of being caged and either escaping or dying trying to. Tied to this are the recurring themes of glory, sacrifice and death. The film not only explores filmmaking through the categories of the pledge, the turn, and the prestige, but also life and, ultimately, issues of the existance of God and the afterlife. I say once more, this is a great film. After watching it again, I would put only The Departed before it of the films that were made last year. That it was nominated for only two Oscars, and in technical categories, is a travesty. A.