Film: The Prestige
The two magicians were once friends, working together on stage with John Cutter (Michael Caine). John Cutter is a stage engineer; he designs magic tricks for magicians.
One night, Angier and Borden perform a trick involving a water tank. Angier’s wife, Julia, has her hands tied and is placed in the water tank, ready to make her escape. Tragically, the trick goes wrong and she drowns. Angier holds Borden responsible as he tied the knot Julia was unable to escape from.
The two become bitter enemies and do whatever they can to be the best magician and go to great lengths to learn each other’s secrets.
The Prestige is a brilliantly written and directed movie; It is very atmospheric and really feels like Victorian England. It is a dark film with many twists and turns and a stunning conclusion.
Trailer
Secrets
Everyone knows that magicians keep secrets but in The Prestige there really are quite a lot. Both the main characters have each others journal and are trying to work out each others tricks. However, how much of the journals are true? Are they just tricks themselves?
Angier has a new assistant after his wife dies called Olivia (Scarlet Johansson). He sends her over to work for Borden in order to learn his secrets. Then, it seems like Olivia has turned on Angier and becomes loyal to Borden. But who is she really working for?
David Bowie
Borden starts performing a trick called The Transported Man. He disappears from one side of the stage and instantly appears at the other side. Angier becomes obsessed with working out how he does the trick which leads him to the scientist, Nikola Tesla (David Bowie).
Angier asks Tesla to build him a machine that will transport him in order to perform his own version of The Transported Man. Tesla is played brilliantly by David Bowie.
David Bowie playing Nikola Tesla. What more could you want from a film?
Christopher Nolan
The film is brilliantly directed by Christopher Nolan. Personally, I believe The Prestige to be his best film. Big words considering his filmography includes:
Memento
Insomnia
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight
Inception
Interstellar
Dunkirk
