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A trick too many , 16 March 2008
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The Prestige
on DVD (2006)
Starring: Christian Bale, Piper Perabo, Scarlett Johansson
Director: Christopher Nolan
Certificate: 
This is an intermittenly fascinating and exciting film about the rivalry between two magicians at the end of the nineteenth century, which occasionally suffers as a result of its intricate narrative style, and a touch more implausibility than real magic requires. In the end there is a sense of slight dissatisfaction compared to some of Nolan's other films.
This isn't to say its a bad film by any means: The explicit theme, of secrets and obsession, is dramatically played out through the long feud between the two main protagonists. Nolan also alludes to the question of how we explain what we don't understand - magic, trickery or science?
But the numerous and overly rapid twists and turns are sometimes tiring, and I was reminded more than once of Michael Caine's (featured here) and Steve Martin's one- upmanship in 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', no less. The intricate non-linear style, typical of Nolan, here seemed to stretch a relatively simple idea out too far (it is quite a long film). Yet it is still a fascinating watch in many ways, not least for its references to real life magicians and the 'mad scientist' or genius inventor of radio and AC current (depending on your point of view), Nikolai Tesla (played by David Bowie at his eccentric best). The double twist at the end, while not entirely believable, is at least tricky to spot in its entirety.
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