The Prestige (2006)

373 Pictures

7.9	Rating (3439 ratings)
8.5	IMDB rating

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Directed by

Christopher Nolan

Starring (View all)

Hugh Jackman
Robert Angier

Christian Bale
Alfred Borden

Michael Caine
Cutter

Piper Perabo
Julia McCullough

Rebecca Hall
Sarah

Scarlett Johansson
Olivia Wenscombe

Samantha Mahurin
Jess

David Bowie
Tesla

Written by (View all)

Jonathan Nolan
(screenplay) and

Christopher Nolan
(screenplay)

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387 votes

Mindfuck movies (162 items)
list by Vandelay

Published 13 years, 6 months ago

49 comments

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list by Prelude

Published 4 months ago

29 comments

229 votes

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list by Lexi

Published 14 years, 5 months ago

19 comments

213 votes

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Published 14 years, 4 months ago

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Published 12 years, 9 months ago

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The Prestige Videos

Trailer

1727 Views, 2 votes

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The Prestige Trailer HD (1080p)

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Added 13 years ago

Hugh Jackman interview 19/10/06

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Cover art, photos and screenshots

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Reviews

Are you watching closely?

16 years, 1 month ago at Aug 26 21:27

Lexi

9 votes

''Never show anyone. They'll beg you and they'll flatter you for the secret, but as soon as you give it up... you'll be nothing to them. The secret impresses no one. The trick you use it for is everything.''

Having been firm friends, a friendship turns into a deadly rivalry. When Alfred performs the ultimate magic trick, Robert tries desperately to find out the secret to the trick a... read more

great magic film

17 years, 8 months ago at Jan 31 4:51

Prelude

4 votes

Similar in theme to the Illusionist, I found Prestige great, awesome acting by Bale, yet can't list this movie as a clear favorite because of one problem: for a mystery, it's way too predictable. I figured out Bale's secret about half way thru the film, so the 2nd half of the movie with all the build up and suspense to reveal the 'secret', well, it was just way too obvious, and it did end up bei... read more

Review

16 years, 11 months ago at Nov 10 11:45

Claudia

4 votes

I prefer the Illusionist to this movie, not that I didn't like this one. It's more predictable than The Illusionist, but the story is still well presented and crafted so that the suspense builds up until the very end when all is revealed. It keeps you guessing about what will happen next, and entertaining to watch the amazing tricks and illusions this movie has to offer.

In this fil... read more

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Description: A mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy, full of obsession, deceit, and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences. Are you watching closely? That is the very important question asked in this absorbing drama about the excessive rivalry between two magicians in early twentieth-century London. It is also a question that comes to the fore in all the films directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins). He is notorious for time shifts and presenting characters with obsessions. The Prestige is based on a novel by Christopher Priest; the screen A mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy, full of obsession, deceit, and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.

Are you watching closely? That is the very important question asked in this absorbing drama about the excessive rivalry between two magicians in early twentieth-century London. It is also a question that comes to the fore in all the films directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins). He is notorious for time shifts and presenting characters with obsessions. The Prestige is based on a novel by Christopher Priest; the screen adaptation is by Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan. It is a dazzler that keeps us on the edge of our seats wondering what will happen next.

Michael Caine serves as the narrator of this tale and also plays Cutter, a designer of illusions used by magicians to arouse audiences always looking for something to take their breath away. He explains: "Every great magic trick consists of three acts. The first act is called The Pledge: the magician shows you something ordinary, but of course, it probably isn't. The second act is called The Turn. The magician makes his ordinary something do something extraordinary. Now, of you're looking for the secret. . . . you won't find it. That's why there's a third act, called The Prestige. This is the part with the twists and turns, where life hangs in the balance, and you see something shocking you haven't seen before." Got your interest? It should. Cutter is quite a fascinating character who finds himself drawn into the lives of two magicians who start out as friends but end up as fierce competitors.

The handsome and sophisticated Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) is a great showman but lacks the talent for truly amazing feats of wonder. He is accompanied in his acts by his lovely wife Julia (Piper Perabo). Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) is not very skillful in front of an audience but has a rigorous commitment to his craft and a dash of creativity. He eventually marries Sarah (Rebecca Hall) who constantly asks him whether he still loves her. She knows that his zeal for magic is an extravagant mistress.

Following the tragic death of Julia in an onstage accident that Angier blames on Borden, the two men part ways and become arch-rivals. They try to outdo each other on stage, then move on to personal acts of revenge that cause each other physical harm. Borden emerges as the top dog when he comes up with a Transported Man bit. Angier schemes and manages to get his hands on his rival's workbook and diary. He journeys to Colorado Springs in hopes of finding a new direction for his work with Serbian scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla (David Bowie). This wizard powers the city with electricity from his laboratory.

Are you watching closely? The magician in writer and director Christopher Nolan enables us to probe in a very up-close and personal way the yearnings of these two magicians. The woman who has a crucial role to play in their lives is Olivia (Scarlett Johansson). She starts out as Angier's assistant on stage and is sent by him to spy on Borden, but then she falls in love with Borden. The Prestige explores the mysteries surrounding magic and the human need to be dazzled and confounded by tricks and illusions. ... (more)

Release date: 20 October 2006

Tags: Thriller (70), Magic (58), Drama (57), Mystery (52), 2006 (52), Revenge (37), Sci-fi (29), Fantasy (29), Rivalry (25), London (25), Illusion (24), Murder (23), 2000s (22), Twist (20), Magician (19), Magicians (19), Suicide (18), Electricity (18), UK (16), (12)

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" "Now you're looking for the secret. But you won't find it because of course, you're not really looking. You don't really want to work it out. You want to be fooled." Written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan Music by David Julyan Cinematography by Wally Pfister Editing by Lee Smith"

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Kyle Ellis posted a review 2 years, 1 month ago

Imperfect but fascinating

“Warning: Spoilers

As said in my review for his masterpiece 'Memento', Christopher Nolan has always struck me as a very talented film-maker, and most of his films are ones that have impressed me a lot. Even weaker efforts, where his ambition can get in the way, have a good deal to admire. His films are all impeccably crafted technically, and often entertaining and thought-provoking, also knowing how to get good performances out of talented casts.

'The Prestige' is not quite perfect, but is still very good and one of Nolan's better films. To me actually it was close to outstanding, which makes my issues with the denouement even more frustrating. And it is the denouement that's 'The Prestige's' biggest problem, being over-baked and with one twist too many, the second of wh” read more