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Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie ... see more see more... , Rebecca Hall , Andy Serkis , Samantha Mahurin , Piper Perabo , Daniel Davis , Jim Piddock , Christopher Neame , Mark Ryan , Roger Rees , Jamie Harris , Monty Stuart , Ron Perkins , Ricky Jay , J. Paul Moore , Anthony Demarco , Chao Li Chi , Gregory Humphreys , John B. Crye , W. Morgan Sheppard , Sean Francis Howse , Julie Sanford , Ezra Buzzington , James Lancaster , Olivia Merg , Zoe Merg , Johnny Liska , Russ Fega , Kevin Will , Edward Hibbert , Christopher Judges , James Otis , Sam Menning , Brian Tahash , Scott Davis , Jodi Bianca Wise , Nikki Glick , Enn Reitel , Clive Kennedy , Rob Arbogast , Chris Cleveland

Obsession, jealousy, and deceit define the tense relationship shared between two turn-of-the-century magicians in Memento and Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan's dizzying tale of sleight of han... read more read more...d. Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are London-based magicians of the highest order, both blessed with spectacular powers of deception and both cursed with unrelenting envy for one another's skills. When Alfred performs an awe-inspiring trick for which there seems no logical explanation, the friendly competition shared between the pair turns to deadly rivalry as the enraged Rupert determines to uncover his rival's deepest secrets. In the world of illusion, however, nothing is ever quite as it seems, and the rules of the physical world simply don't apply. Now, as bitter competition quickly begins to consume the souls of both performers, the firestorm birthed by their anger threatens to consume all who surround them. Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, and David Bowie co-star in a feature that finds director/screenwriter Nolan reuniting with brother and Memento story author Jonathan Nolan to adapt author Christopher Priest's original novel. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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90% liked it

490,582 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

188 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Release Date: October 20, 2006

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DVD Release Date: February 20, 2007

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The Prestige The Prestige (2006) The Prestige (2006) The Prestige (2006) The Prestige The Prestige - Christian Bale & Rebecca Hall Are You Watching Closely? Chrisitan Bale Angier He was born January 30, 1974 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK. Robert Angier Angier and Cutter 3 The Prestige (2006) Are You Watching Closely? Rebecca Hall @ The Prestige Premiere The Prestige The Prestige - Alfred & Sarah Rebecca Hall in The Prestige
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Flixster Reviews (54,099)

  • brooklynspo
    June 4, 2007
    brooklynspo
    six or seven dollars worth of movie
  • fb1463751009
    March 9, 2012
    fb1463751009
    This revenge thriller twists and turns through different points-of-views, time, and setting and manages to keep the audience engaged and shocked throughout. Great performances by both Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. "The Prestige"'ll surprise you, entertain you, and shock you. A... read more great time.
  • fb100002891058690
    February 23, 2012
    fb100002891058690
    Perfect.
  • fb1033186916
    November 6, 2011
    fb1033186916
    A dazzling piece of work that literally stuns you with magic. Its plot keeps you hanging on until the very end where it goes for the kill in your head. Weirdly enough, this proves that there are in fact forgotten cliches, but it cleverly contributes to the impact of the film. Als... read moreo, this movie is magnificently acted by both Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. Nolan truly stayed up with his standards and continued to make quality films in all of its aspect.
  • fb729949618
    October 31, 2011
    fb729949618
    This is my type of film, full of mystery & twists. With one of the best twist endings i've ever seen, The Prestige adds onto Christopher Nolan's genius and great filmmaking. I haven't read the book, but this film has to be a really great adaptation for it. I don't think i've been... read more as shocked towards an ending since I saw Se7en, i'm surprised this film didn't get more acclaim.
  • jonnyjason
    October 29, 2011
    jonnyjason
    It's 1860. 19th century London and the rest of developing societies have convinced themselves that they are at the height of civil progression and have delved into gratifying forms of entertainment. One of the less attractive forms are magic, magicians forming illusions and mind-... read morebenders to test the intellect of theater goers. This is the backdrop to Christopher Nolan's 2006 adaption of Christopher Priest's celebrated novel. The film revolves around two rival magicians, Rupert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale). The two once worked together, finding bigger and more elaborate ways to bend the minds of their theater goers. Angier's wife was there assistant. One performance is the popular escape the locked water chamber- the start the pocket watch and the woman is behind the curtain. The minute's up, they pull the curtain, and the woman is dead. Angier blames Alfred, who later marries and starts a family. He envies his partner's life. He quickly returns to magic acts, and utilizes a simple transport sequence. Everyone, including Angier's new assistant, Olivia, (Scarlett Johannsen) and his manager, Cutter (Michael Caine) say it's an illusion, using a behind the scenes duplicate. But Angier reads between the lines. He knows that Alfred is doing something different-is it true magic? An optical illusion, or the obvious answer, science? Angier spends years searching for the answer, growing corrupt and insane. Alfred isn't faring well, all the while leading his ex-partner on a false trail and dealing with his wife (Rebecca Hall) who is tired of secrets. Angier seeks science and researches the possibility of cloning, which Alfred only tricked him into doing, but finds out it really is real. He suspects, however, that what Alfred may be performing the greatest illusion of all time-or perhaps true magic.

    It's made clear from the beginning that this movie isn't about magic tricks. The screenwriter doesn't toy with the supernatural elements but cleverly invests most of the plot in character development. Director Christopher Nolan helmed this film after Batman Begins but right before The Dark Knight, so he had already set a tone for himself as a film maker by the tone at this time. This, to me, feels a lot like a 19th century Inception. What makes this film engaging to watch is seeing the rival magicians trying to outsmart each other. Christopher Nolan brilliantly balances his multiple time periods in this (much like Inception) so that a wary viewer won't get confused but is still in for a surprise in the end when the final card is laid on the table. He manages to juggle multiple subplots as well as mold the character psychology into the execution of the story, which in another's hands would become disjointed. The camerawork is purposefully shaky and the cinematography purposefully dark as to illuminate the story's tone and conflict.

    The film is bolstered by powerful performances from its leading cast, who carry a lot of the weight here. It's Jackman in particular who holds the viewers' attention, managing to inject just the right amount of borderline psychosis that his character needs. The little exposition that there is in the story is mostly left up to him, as Bale's perspective is purposefully kept in the dark due to plot demands. He's not only easy to watch but riveting in his role as a man driven to madness by obsession, idiosyncratic in his performance and chilling as an afterthought. This is possibly the most psychologically dark performance he's given, which according to Hollywood is puberty for actors.

    Gripping, disturbing, and with just the right amount of narrative complexity, The Prestige proves to be a thrilling and unique period piece that racks up another cinematic success for Christopher Nolan.
  • joelkelly319
    October 29, 2011
    joelkelly319
    A film about jealousy, deceit, and bitter rivalry, The Prestige is an excellent film. A dark and complex story which is put forward brilliantly to the watcher through the diary within a diary style, a unique and genius way of executing the narrative. Each diary acts almost like i... read morets own story, and as each gets resovled you see the connections between each one, until the past is completely resolved and in the final act the story focuses on the present. The sets, and costumes are all briantly designed, creating the illusion that this realy is late 19th century london. The acting is at a high standard, and i thought it was a shame that Micheal Caines character didn't have the amount of screen time as everyone else, but Bale pretty much fills the acting gap. Despite being baised before the twentieth century, The Prestige has the same cutting edge and modern and dark atmosphere of other Nolan films. The ending comes with at leat 3 genuine suprises, and despite the darkness, the ending is a happy one. This shuold require repeat viewing to be fully apreciated.
  • TheGame90
    September 26, 2011
    TheGame90
    Very good movie. There is no doubt in my mind who is the best director of post 2000 time. A very interesting story (I'm a fan of magic...) And very good acting performances. I say...keep up the good work
  • fb1216165431
    September 9, 2011
    fb1216165431
    The Prestige is a nonlinear mystery thriller from Christopher Nolan with "the pledge," "the turn," and "the prestige" in story, style, and form. The Prestige is a dark and sadistic illusion, a brilliant deception to the unsuspecting audiences. Look closer. It is magic.
  • flixsterman
    July 14, 2011
    flixsterman
    I'm guessing that 5 or 10 years from now people are going to revisit this film and wonder what all the fuss was about.

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Critic Reviews

Bob Mondello
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello, NPR.org

The film is never less than engaging, though considering that the title The Prestige refers to the moment in a magic act that gives it its "wow" factor, it's kind of a shame that the ultimate "reveal"... Full Review

Roger Ebert
September 7, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It's quite a movie -- atmospheric, obsessive, almost satanic. Full Review

Richard Roeper
October 25, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

Jackman and Bale give standout performances as rivals whose mutual obsession destroys all sense of perspective and ruins lives. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
October 25, 2006
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

The film is lavishly mounted, set-wise, costume-wise, makeup-wise and special-effects-wise. But the magicians themselves are cold and devious, and the chill permeates the whole film.

Dana Stevens
October 23, 2006
Dana Stevens, Slate

It doesn't want to explore epistemological questions about the nature of perception and memory; it just wants to mess with our heads. And as a wily, slightly sadistic chess game of a movie, it succeed... Full Review

James Berardinelli
October 21, 2006
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Watching The Prestige is like observing a magic act where the magician's sleight-of-hand isn't deft enough. The trick almost works, but not quite. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
October 21, 2006
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The Prestige is a trick box with too many false bottoms. Full Review

Claudia Puig
October 20, 2006
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The Prestige is wonderfully engrossing, darkly mysterious and entertaining from start to finish. Full Review

Peter Howell
October 20, 2006
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

A pleasing puzzle of feuding conjurers played by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. Full Review

Richard Schickel
October 20, 2006
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

For all the film's murky misdirections, it is very enjoyable. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Robert Angier: Man's reach exceeds his imagination.
    • Cutter: Now you're looking for the secret...But you won't find it bof course, you're not really looking... You don't really want to know..You want to be fooled!
    • Cutter: I once told you about a salior who described drowning to me.
    • Robert Angier: Yes, he said it was like going home.
    • Cutter: I was lying. He said it was agony.
    • Alfred Borden: Simple maybe, but not easy.
    • Robert Angier: Man's reach exceeds his imagination!
    • Alfred Borden: Secrets are my life.
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The Prestige Trivia

  • In what movie are these words used: The Pledge, the turn and the prestige?  Answer »
  • Robert and Alfred are rival magicians. When Alfred performs the ultimate magic trick, Robert tries desperately to find out the secret to the trick. Which movie is the above describing?  Answer »
  • In the movie the Prestige, what were the three parts to a magic trick?  Answer »
  • Name the movie that the following actors starred in: Christian Bale Hugh Jackman Michael Caine Piper Perabo Scarlett Johansson Andy Serkis David Bowie  Answer »
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