The Prestige

The second movie about magic of 2006, this one, featuring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Scarlett Johansson, is definitely the one with the most impact, both in terms of the story and of its lingering effects. Weeks after watching it, I’m still intrigued by it.

I won’t even summarize the story here, since this is the type of movie you want to watch without knowing anything about it at all. You’ll be mesmerized by the developments and the many twists and turns.

The cast is phenomenal from top to bottom, including the cameo-like appearances of David Bowie and Andy Serkis, the man responsible for bringing the creature Gollum to life so brilliantly in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jackman and Bale are excellently cast as the dueling magicians, with Bale, arguably one of the greatest actors ever, giving yet another incredible performance. Caine too is astoundingly good.

Naturally, the best thing about The Prestige is its screenplay, which effectively keeps you on the edge of your seat while the story’s many interconnected plot intrigues unwind in front of your eyes.

This is absolutely a movie not to be missed, whether for its performances or its story. Watch it.

Grade: 8.5