DVD Talk review of 'The Prestige'
 

I read Daniel Hirshleifer's DVD review of The Prestige at http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=26616 and...

Thinking this was going to a be a serious film about two dueling illusionists, expectation got the better of me and when it reveals itself to be a SCIENCE FICTION FILM - its like a punch in the face. I guess if by "perfectly constructed" the author of this review means that Nolan shows his hand too early at every turn - besides the incredible shock of the ending that occurs by finding out Nolan wants you to buy into his science fiction, nothing else was a suprise - the other twists of the film are revealed half way through the film if you are "watching closely". This film has a strong start that, like all of Nolans films, falls apart in the end; twists are revealed too early, and the tone is so serious, that the end becomes the most ridiculous dissapointment ever concieved. 1/5 stars.

Sorry you didn't like it. I think it gets better with each viewing.

I still enjoyed the movie, but I understand what the OP is talking about.

But this film isn't soley about it's twists. I guessed both twists early on too, but I still thought it was a damn good movie

Agreed. As I've mentioned before, the twists inform you about the nature of the characters. They're not there strictly for surprise.

Exactly which of Nolan's other films fall apart in the end?

I disagree. Anyone watching closely will guess all of the "twists" the moment the details start presenting themselves which is what was so frustrating to me. Knowing what is ultimately going to be revealed, I wanted to see the real story, the meaty story behind it. There is a much better story in the subtext of this film, but Nolan seems bent on the trickery and cleverness of delivering some sort of postmodern magic trick to the viewer. If it would have worked it could have been amazing. But he tips his hat so early and so often and then spends 10 minutes explaining it all in some James Bondlike exposition - it was as if he was afraid someone wouldn't understand it, when it was such a simple story. I would have rather had the one twist revealed half way through and delved deeper into the characters motivations. That would have a been a stronger film.

But saying the film isn't about the twist is wrong to me- The film almost dares you to guess the "prestige" of it. It's entire narrative structure is built on it trying to fool you like a magic trick. But having guessed it way early like many other viewers I can't help but feel like one the members in the audience screaming out "We've seen em all before mate".

All that being said, the movie is so up my alley in content and story, that's why it's so frustrating that it only went half way for me. I can't fault a movie for what it isn't...but to me what it is is a failed attempt at clever.

The so-called "twists" aren't twists at all for anyone paying attention to the movie. I was expecting something on top of what I already knew was happening after all the "buzz" about the surprise ending. That's really not Nolan's fault...it's the marketing/press dept. fault, but to say THE PRESTIGE falls in the "twist" category ala M. Night's movies is really a misstatement.

If I wasn't expecting a "shock" ending, I might have enjoyed the movie more...instead I felt let down because at the end of the movie I was saying "That's it? I knew that 50 minutes ago!"

I think you're misunderstanding my point. The trickery is how these men live their lives. And thus, all the twists, all of the things you think Nolan is hung up on, is actually what the characters are hung up on. Each twist shows more of how these men live their lives. They're not there to shock you or surprise the way Shyamalan's insipid twists try to, they are there to give you more insight into the way the characters live and conduct their affairs.

I don't think they're twists so much as just reveals, they tell you repeatidly through the movie what to expect. I mean, how many more times could they have said "He uses a double" and how many more examples of tesla's machines (electricity from a generator to a barren field (15 miles away), and the hats and cats) could they have given to make it less surprising. It seemed more like a natural progression. The only things that actually qualify as twists in the movie were the intended deceptions by Angier and Borden in their journals.

But whatever, I don't judge a movie by how surprising it is, I judge it by how entertained I am, and watching the film unfold was extremely entertaining imho. The only issue I had on my initial viewing... I was so intent on figuring out a logical explaination of what happend, had Angier been conned? Was the man in the box a double? and trying to work backwards from there, I didn't like the scifi touch but they build up to it from the first frame of the movie so it isn't a copout either. That said, on repeat viewings the movie plays out extremely well and is, in a way, even more enjoyable.

I should read the book eventually, but yeah... Probably not going to happen.

I think my problem is the narrative wasn't consistent enough. If we were to see Bale's character from the beginning (and not allowed to see him only in convenient sections of the film)...or if we were not allowed to see anything from his perspective until one of the reveals I might find it ok. As it is now the narrative was very conveniently cutting away in many places...to the point where I don't think the characters were acting correctly in parts.

I believe it was done simply to "twist"...there was insight into the characters missed, not gained, by telling it this way.

I edited it to state this: I don't mean to be so down on the movie... I found it highly entertaining, but it's so close to great for me...it's a little frustrating.