The Prestige (2006)

The rivalry between two magicians is exacerbated when one of them performs the ultimate illusion.

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Writers:

Jonathan Nolan (screenplay), Christopher Nolan (screenplay),

Stars:

Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine

Top 250 #68 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Jackman	...	Robert Angier
Christian Bale	...	Alfred Borden
Michael Caine	...	Cutter
Piper Perabo	...	Julia McCullough
Rebecca Hall	...	Sarah Borden
Scarlett Johansson	...	Olivia Wenscombe
Samantha Mahurin	...	Jess Borden
David Bowie	...	Nikola Tesla
Andy Serkis	...	Alley
Daniel Davis	...	Judge
Jim Piddock	...	Prosecutor
Christopher Neame	...	Defender
Mark Ryan	...	Captain
Roger Rees	...	Owens
Jamie Harris	...	Sullen Warder

Storyline

In the end of the Nineteenth Century, in London, Robert Angier, his beloved wife Julia McCullough and Alfred Borden are friends and assistants of a magician. When Julia accidentally dies during a performance, Robert blames Alfred for her death and they become enemies. Both become famous and rival magicians, sabotaging the performance of the other on the stage. When Alfred performs a successful trick, Robert becomes obsessed trying to disclose the secret of his competitor with tragic consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

magician | rivalry | secret | illusion | deceit | 

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Taglines:

A Rivalry That Turned Deadly.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Touchstone Pictures [us] Warner Bros [fr]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

El gran truco

Filming Locations:

Spring Street Towers - 650 S. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,109,729 (Australia) (17 November 2006)

Gross:

$53,082,743 (USA) (2 February 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Warner Bros, Newmarket Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chung Ling Soo was a stage character created by a Caucasian American man, William Ellsworth Robinson, who disguised himself as a Chinese man to cash in on audiences' enthusiasm for the exotic. Robinson lived as Chung, never breaking character while in public. He died in March 1918 when a bullet catch trick went wrong. "My God, I've been shot" were both his last words and the first English he had spoken on stage in 19 years.

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Goofs

Near the end of Cutter"s Summation, Alfred Borden picks up his daughter with left arm. It is very quick camera shot, but all five fingers are revealed.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Alfred Borden: Are you watching closely?

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Connections

Referenced in Face Off: Welcome to the Jungle (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Butterfly Etude"
Composed by Frédéric Chopin
Arranged & Performed by Stephen Edwards (as Stephen James Edwards)
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

Outstanding acting performances worth price of admission

I went to see a critics preview of The Prestige this afternoon and to my surprise I found the film to be one of the best I have seen all year so far, and that writers can come up with an excellent script it they would only try a little harder. The acting performances by Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine were the best I have see in a long while. The only objection I had to the film was that it was a little long, but once you leave the theater you will discuss the film and it many twists and turns. My wife and myself discussed it all the way home from the movie theater. This is a winner and should be up for some academy award statues, and my recommendation is go see this as soon as you can, you will not be disappointed.