The Prestige

Are you watching closely?

• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine & Scarlett Johansson
• Release date: 20th Oct 2006
• Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/the-prestige

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

Christopher Nolan strikes again with the inventive and mind-blowing 2006 hit ‘The Prestige’. The film explores themes of greed, ambition, the art of showbiz, and the passion of two upcoming magicians in the early 20th century. It cleverly sets the tone of finding an income through a non-traditional occupation and the struggle to be successful at doing so due to ongoing competition. The rivalry between the two main characters Robert Angier and Alfred Borden is clear from the beginning. As viewers, we constantly change sides, unsure of who truly deserves to be called the better magician.

Watching this felt like an intense tennis match, you’re locked into their stories, following each twist, each trial, and every obsession-fuelled move as they attempt to create a new, revolutionary magic trick. The competition between the two protagonists is hot and fiery. This theme lays the grounds for this film. Yes, it is about magic, show business and magician-ship. But, throughout it encourages the question of “How willing are you to commit?”, “How far are you determined to make this magic trick a reality?” “How much will you sacrifice to make the unbelievable believable?”

Angier and Borden are two men trying to earn a living doing something they love, something they’re brilliant at. But as the film unfolds, it shows the dark side of always wanting more, of chasing greatness at any cost.

Michael Caine’s character, Cutter, sets the foundation for the story by explaining the three parts of a magic trick: The Pledge, The Turn, and most importantly, The Prestige. One of the film’s standout lines, “Are you watching closely?”, immediately draws us in. And of course, we do watch closely. But this is a Christopher Nolan film, so even if you think you’re catching everything, you probably aren’t.

Watching The Prestige feels like the lights are on but no one’s home, you’re fully engaged, but still left in the dark. After all, a magician’s greatest weapon is secrecy. As the audience, we become fixated on figuring it out. How does he do it?

The film’s twist is genuinely unpredictable, and that’s what makes it brilliant. When the reveal finally hits, it’s almost frustrating. The clues were there all along. You feel tricked but in the best possible way. Making Nolan a true genius. It’s like this entire film is a magic trick and we as the audience are being fooled just like the crowds in the film. The twist of this film is, quite literally, The Prestige. Yet, we find out the truth behind these tricks and the sacrifice magicians have to make to make you believe the unbelievable.

The portrayal of infidelity makes Borden a difficult character to root for, but once his Transported Man trick is explained, his actions take on a whole new meaning. His relationship with his twin, Fallon, drives home the theme of commitment and what it takes to make magic feel real. I rewatched this film a few days after watching it for the first time, and the clues to the truth were so bold and obvious when you know. Similar to what Sarah says when Borden explains the bullet catch trick. This drives the theme of the importance of secrecy within the magic industry and the necessity of keeping the prestige private and confidential.

As tension grows throughout the story, when we view Borden and Sarah’s relationship, it becomes tense on some days and loving and warm on others. She claims that on certain days she can tell his feelings towards her are not the same and his love is for ‘magic’. This is a subtle, yet obvious hint to his ingenuity to make his magic a reality.

Angier’s trick, on the other hand, is equally mind-blowing. His version of The Prestige leans into the dark potential of science, using cloning to pull off the impossible. His motivation is driven by greed, revenge, and wanting to become one of the greats, constantly battling his inner demons that are telling him to find something better, something better and more inventive. Something to make Borden think. We see that after cloning himself, he has to sacrifice himself to keep his secret uncovered, and by doing so he drowns himself the same way his wife did at the beginning of the film. Making his sacrifices for love.

This film is inventive, imaginative, and incredibly unique. Something outside the box and original. Nolan’s style of storytelling can be confusing, but it is eye-catching and it immediately captivates the audience’s attention to finding out the truth behind The Prestige.