Christopher Nolan
The Prestige

"Every magic trick consists of 3 parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge." The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird, or a man. He shows you this object. He may ask you to inspect it, to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn." The magician takes that ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because you're not really looking. You don't want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige." "  (Mr. Cutter)

Victorian London, the lives and dreams of two daring magicians intertwine in the pursuit of the "Prestige." Alfred Borden (Bale) is sentenced to capital punishment for the murder of fellow magician Robert Angier (Jackman), a friend and lifelong rival. Having met as talented apprentices, Robert and Alfred (both already infected with the desire to one day become famous and acclaimed magicians) soon see their lives disrupted by a particularly risky magic trick, an event that marks the end of a friendship and the beginning of rivalry.

Nothing will ever be the same in a wicked and relentless whirlwind of deceptions and retaliations that finds its final goal in achieving the "total prestige," the ultimate trick, the dream of every magician. The conclusive experience will turn out to be the incomprehensible and fascinating "human transport," but envy and grudges will leave room for only one winner.

After the sophisticated "Memento" (2000) and the success of "Batman Begins" (2005), Christopher Nolan adapts Christopher Priest's novel, constructing a film orchestrated like a true magic trick, managing to simultaneously satisfy both the audience and the critics.

A cast in a state of grace. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale occupy roles that seem tailor-made, two distinct worlds, poles apart in their philosophical interpretation of illusionism; at the court of engineer Mr. Cutter (Michael Caine), the man with a wise gaze, who has seen it all and perhaps already knows how it will end. Worth mentioning also the performance of the beautiful Scarlett Johansson.

The narrative component is absolutely top tier and shows no signs of dropping tension. Starting from the end, the story is reconstructed backward with dramatic plot twists and dizzying flashbacks, but nothing is meaningless: there is a profound reflection in these dark characters who live in gloomy environments, just like their minds are. What is it possible to sacrifice in the name of Prestige (illusionary trick/thirst for success, artistic excellence)? Feelings? Respect? Or even life?

The director turns the story of an obsession into a journey that captures that viewer "who wants to be fooled" by truths, lies, and prestiges... until the revelation of the prodigious final trick for which Angier, it will be discovered, came to make a chilling "pact with the devil."

"ABRACADABRA" (Alfred Borden - last words)