Cast:
Hugh JackmanRobert Angier
Christian BaleAlfred Borden
Michael CaineCutter
Piper PeraboJulia McCullough
Rebecca HallSarah
Scarlett JohanssonOlivia Wenscombe
The Prestige (2006): Spoiler-Free Review
The Prestige is Christopher Nolan’s 2006 thriller about two rival magicians in Victorian London. Like a good trick, it has three parts, and it asks you to watch closely.
The Premise
Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) start as friends, but a stage accident turns them into bitter enemies. Each builds a bigger act than the other, and each risks everything, even their families. Michael Caine plays the engineer behind their devices, and David Bowie plays the inventor Nikola Tesla.
Why It Works
- The film follows the stages of a trick: the pledge, the turn and the prestige.
- Jackman and Bale match each other, and neither plays a villain.
- It earned Oscar nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.
At a Glance
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Cast: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie
- Source: Novel by Christopher Priest, adapted by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan
- Genre: Mystery, thriller, period drama
Verdict
A film about obsession, built like a trick. Watch closely, and then watch again.
- Who should watch: Fans of puzzle films and period settings, and anyone who likes stories about rivalry.
- Spoilers: none. We never reveal the twist in this review.
Frequently Asked Questions About:
"The Prestige"
Is The Prestige based on a book?
Yes. Christopher Priest wrote the 1995 novel.
Is The Prestige based on a true story?
No. The story is fiction, although Nikola Tesla was a real inventor.
Who plays Nikola Tesla in The Prestige?
David Bowie plays him.
What do the pledge, the turn and the prestige mean?
They are the three parts of a trick in the film. You show something ordinary, you make it do something extraordinary, and then the surprising return follows.
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