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    The Prestige

    Reviewed by
    pietroantoni@

    After Interstellar I just had to see THE PRESTIGE the sole Nolan film left to see (2006), a film that comes close after MEMENTO and belongs to his earlier film making. As usual with Nolan, a second viewing is advisable for most to comprehend fully the proceedings of the 1999 -2006 movies. We are in Victorian England just past the Industrial Revolution but at the birth of Victorian Advertising. This in itself is amazing as we see the real birth of MODERN MEDIA! PRESTIGE was filmed at Universal, some say at Disney but you would swear it was the trashy 19th C London of the lower classes. Even when the camera moves in for very tight close-ups, you can't tell for a moment tell it's a set. Superb Art and Set Decoration! Miraculous! ( Oscar Nominated for 2006 Oscars ) Friends and rival magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) are the background to the entire freaky, oft convoluted story. Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall are great as the women in their lives and we still get a super Michael Caine, David Bowie, Roger Rees and other greats. The entire film, (note carefully), was shot by hand held cameras, an often messy way of filming which, however, works terrifically well most times as it does here. The dark costumes, very brownish sets and the use of mainly natural light helps creative a bleak, oppressive atmosphere, important to the film as it showed an accurate London of 1897. The characters, usually at odds with one another can never be discounted as their schemes become almost diabolical, but the NARRATIVE, clearly above the idea of character keeps presenting multiple views and layers of ideas, even shifting between them as to mesmerize and befuddle us. It's all a wicked a maze as we crave further perspective, a grain of truth, more explanation in this suspense ridden story that won't let up! Prestige is a film stripped of any faith or hope as was the situation in late 19th century London so folks gravitated to MAGIC as a possibility of trying to understand the impossible! As with all Nolan films, visual metaphors spin off in all directions, again to the confusion of even those paying close attention. This is a film that stays with you. For most it's impossible to decipher straight away! Confused at times, I kept pace, the entire conclusion shocked me to no end. Not for a moment could I anticipate this turn of events. Many felt Nolan was cheating throwing this at us the last minute! Frankly, it is one hell of an important fact to discover so late, BUT NOLAN DOES MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS IMPORTANT FACT earlier on. Much like MEMENTO you can never wonder off in PRESTIGE. It is fatal! The many poor ratings here reflect a NON-COMPREHENSION of Nolan's film. Early Nolan films are so cerebral, truly a feat in capturing the Nolan mind. Nolan is one of the most complicated of contemporary directors. No question he loves playing with our minds. Frankly, I don't think all audiences can keep pace with Nolan's film language with its 'devilish' deceit to make one fully sweat it out for two hours.

    10
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    pietroantoni@  13.11.2014 age: 36-49 14,551 reviews

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