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I’ve now rejoined the ranks of the two job class. I am working at a video store now. One of the perks? Renting next week’s new releases. This Tuesday? My recommendation is the Prestige. What a fine film. Not a tremendous shock, as Christopher Nolan makes good movies. And he has (along with the screenwriters) taken a great story by Christopher Priest (not the extremely gifted writer of comic books, though) and filled it so full of beautiful twists, that even when you think you have it all worked out, you have surprises that you had not anticipated. Although, if you pay extreme attention to every word spoken, then you might be able to predict the film.
I really cannot say much otherwise I am giving stuff away. I will say that Nolan handles the theme of the story (the dangers of obsessive competition and vengeance) very well. It’s a nicely told morality tale that entertains. This is in no small part due to an excellent cast. As rival magicians, Christian Bale (the determined Alfred Borden) and Hugh Jackman (the less talented, but better showman Robert Angier) are spectacular and full of life. Michael Caine portrays Cutter, who helps magicians pull off their illusions. This is really one of those stock Michael Caine type roles. The wise mentor. And yet, he plays the role so well everytime. The Prestige is no exception.
Scarlett Johansson is the lovely young assistant to Angier who becomes a pawn in the two scheming magicians attempts to humiliate and destroy each other. I won’t really gripe that her outfits play up her appearance, as magician assistant outfits often do just that(in the film, Cutter even notes that a great form of deception on stage is to have a lovely assistant to steal the attention of the men in the audience-thus distracting them while you perform tricks that will amaze).I’ve always seen Johansson as the more talented version of Jessica Alba, so I am not shocked that the director wants to cash in on her being “hot”. And as I said, at least the reasons are plausible.
Sriously, the Prestige is a fantastic and inspired little bit of film making. Gets me psyched for Nolan’s next Batfilm, actually.
