The Prestige Reviewed
Here it is, to those of you who are interested. I give this film two stars, and to explain why I have to go into major spoilers, so I am
Now, first and foremost, while the centerpiece of this film is supposed to be magic, it is not. It is about obsession, rivalry and to a point, vengance.
The film stars Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale and Rupert and Alfred, respectively. We first see them as assistants for a third magician (played by magic historian Ricky Jay) in a now classic trick involving a water tank and a blonde beauty, Julia (the lovely Piper Perabo). Once the rather personal relationship between Rupert and Julia is revealed, the trick goes horribly wrong. After this and a murder attempt, the film changes focus to Rupert and Alfred working as solo magicians. Rupert discovers Alfred is wowing the crowds with a trick called, "The Transporting Man" and he becomes obsessed with learning the secret, and eventually creating a similar trick.
Throughout all of this, which is told in flashbacks, we see Alfred on trial and then in prison, awaiting execution for Rupert's death.
The problems I had with this film can be told in two parts.
1) You should never insult the intelligence of the audience. If they manage to get a step ahead of you before the reveal, then you have screwed up.
Cases in point:
a) In the beginning when they showed the character of Fallon, they did not give any full on face shots. In fact, they never should have, because I recognized Christian Bale under the makeup right away.
b) There is a much referred to Lord C...some or other...I cannot remember the name. But this guy seems to be a collector of magic stuff. The second Alfred offers the secrets to his tricks to an attorney representing this Lord (and this was something Rupert wanted), I knew who this Lord actually was.
c) As soon as I saw Rupert's assistants transporting a covered water tank, I knew how and why we were being led to believe Rupert had been murdered.
2) There are no protagonists in this film. A review of this film that appeared in Entertainment Weekly referred to Jackman and Bale as the film's "heroes." That could not be any farther from the truth.
As it was hinted at by Christian Bale under the makeup of the character Fallon, he is in fact playing a pair of identical twins. These twins switch identities whenever the spirit moves them and as a direct result an innocent woman commits suicide, leaving them with two deaths directly and indirectly at their hands and no indication of any real remorse.
Rupert is not of a clean mind: He literally kills himself at least a 100 times.
Cutter (played by Michael Caine) seems to be aware of the trickery of both parties and has no qualms allowing Alfred/Fallon to know where Rupert is just so he can kill him.
I am not aware how the novel that served as the basis reads, but I would hope it is not as dark and depressing as this film was.
So why did I give it two stars? Two words: Andy Serkis. Anybody smart enough to get this guy in their movie cannot be all that bad, right?
Now, first and foremost, while the centerpiece of this film is supposed to be magic, it is not. It is about obsession, rivalry and to a point, vengance.
The film stars Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale and Rupert and Alfred, respectively. We first see them as assistants for a third magician (played by magic historian Ricky Jay) in a now classic trick involving a water tank and a blonde beauty, Julia (the lovely Piper Perabo). Once the rather personal relationship between Rupert and Julia is revealed, the trick goes horribly wrong. After this and a murder attempt, the film changes focus to Rupert and Alfred working as solo magicians. Rupert discovers Alfred is wowing the crowds with a trick called, "The Transporting Man" and he becomes obsessed with learning the secret, and eventually creating a similar trick.
Throughout all of this, which is told in flashbacks, we see Alfred on trial and then in prison, awaiting execution for Rupert's death.
The problems I had with this film can be told in two parts.
1) You should never insult the intelligence of the audience. If they manage to get a step ahead of you before the reveal, then you have screwed up.
Cases in point:
a) In the beginning when they showed the character of Fallon, they did not give any full on face shots. In fact, they never should have, because I recognized Christian Bale under the makeup right away.
b) There is a much referred to Lord C...some or other...I cannot remember the name. But this guy seems to be a collector of magic stuff. The second Alfred offers the secrets to his tricks to an attorney representing this Lord (and this was something Rupert wanted), I knew who this Lord actually was.
c) As soon as I saw Rupert's assistants transporting a covered water tank, I knew how and why we were being led to believe Rupert had been murdered.
2) There are no protagonists in this film. A review of this film that appeared in Entertainment Weekly referred to Jackman and Bale as the film's "heroes." That could not be any farther from the truth.
As it was hinted at by Christian Bale under the makeup of the character Fallon, he is in fact playing a pair of identical twins. These twins switch identities whenever the spirit moves them and as a direct result an innocent woman commits suicide, leaving them with two deaths directly and indirectly at their hands and no indication of any real remorse.
Rupert is not of a clean mind: He literally kills himself at least a 100 times.
Cutter (played by Michael Caine) seems to be aware of the trickery of both parties and has no qualms allowing Alfred/Fallon to know where Rupert is just so he can kill him.
I am not aware how the novel that served as the basis reads, but I would hope it is not as dark and depressing as this film was.
So why did I give it two stars? Two words: Andy Serkis. Anybody smart enough to get this guy in their movie cannot be all that bad, right?