Synopsis: Award-winning actors Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson star in The Prestige, the twisting, turning story that, like all great magic tricks, stays with you. Two young, passionate magicians, Robert Angier (Jackman), a charismatic showman, and Alfred Borden (Bale), a gifted illusionist, are friends and partners until one fateful night when their biggest trick goes terribly wrong. Now the bitterest of enemies, they will stop at nothing to learn each other’s secrets. As their rivalry escalates into a total obsession full of deceit and sabotage, they risk everything to become the greatest magician of all time. But nothing is as it seems, so watch closely. And be prepared to watch it again and again.
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The Prestige 8.5

I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of Christopher Nolan. Oh, sure, ‘Memento’ is one of the greatest films of the last decade, and he has rejuvenated the Batman series. But the Batman films are fluff, with ‘The Dark Knight’ suffering from plot gaps galore and ‘Batman Begins’ being a good starting point but far from being genius. ‘Insomnia’ was just a rehash of an arguably superior film, and I have yet to see ‘Following’.

But I have seen ‘The Prestige’. And while I’m not a huge fan of the filmmaker, I have to give him kudos for a solid career and for two rather remarkable films – after all, some filmmakers can’t (and will never!) make similar claims.

Nolan will probably never repeat the masterful strokes of ‘Memento’, but he has given us here a veritably gripping tale of magic and deceit – featuring none other than his key ‘Batman’ cast: Christian Bale and Michael Caine. Rounding out the key component of the cast are Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie. It’s a good start.

But, what’s it about, you wonder?

I can’t tell much more than this: two magicians, once friends, begin years of bitter rivalry on the London stage at the end of the 19th century. It’s about two men’s obsession with becoming the best in the world and the lengths to which they would go to ensure their own success – all the while trumping the other’s.

It has been done before, but never in this setting, and never quite like this. Because, in the world of stage magic, anything can happen; one never knows quite what to expect and what one can believe. This means that, in the course of a little over two hours, we are treated to a variety tricks and twists that can only render one breathless, aghast at the scope of the ploys and devices involved.

In adapting the Christopher Priest’s novel, Nolan knew that he had the makings of, not only a fantastic vehicle for his cast, but also a tremendously engaging tale to tell his audience. He knew that, with this material, he had pure movie magic in the palm of his hand.

And he does. Truly.

At first I dismissed this film as a boring ol’ period piece. But I decided to give it a whirl anyway – despite having heard absolutely nothing about it, and being less than enthusiastic about the context and its prospects. I was extremely surprised and ended up buying the movie. Twice.

Personally, I think that’s worth seeing at least once. Go rent it now.