DramaMysteryScience Fiction

The Prestige

- Are You Watching Closely?

A mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy -- full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.

Release Date : 2006-10-17

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Warner Bros. PicturesTouchstone PicturesNewmarket FilmsSyncopy

Production Country : United KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Robert Angier

Original Name : Hugh Jackman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alfred Borden

Original Name : Christian Bale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cutter

Original Name : Michael Caine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Julia McCullough

Original Name : Piper Perabo

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sarah

Original Name : Rebecca Hall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Olivia Wenscombe

Original Name : Scarlett Johansson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jess

Original Name : Samantha Mahurin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tesla

Original Name : David Bowie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alley

Original Name : Andy Serkis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : Daniel Davis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prosecutor

Original Name : Jim Piddock

Gender : Male

Character Name : Defender

Original Name : Christopher Neame

Gender : Male

Character Name : Captain

Original Name : Mark Ryan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Owens

Original Name : Roger Rees

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sullen Warder

Original Name : Jamie Harris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stagecoach Driver

Original Name : Monty Stuart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hotel Manager

Original Name : Ron Perkins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Milton

Original Name : Ricky Jay

Gender : Male

Character Name : Virgil

Original Name : J. Paul Moore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy

Original Name : Anthony De Marco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chung Ling Soo

Original Name : Chao-Li Chi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : Gregory Humphreys

Gender : Male

Character Name : Voice

Original Name : John B. Crye

Gender : Male

Character Name : Merrit

Original Name : William Morgan Sheppard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man

Original Name : Sean Howse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elegant Lady

Original Name : Julia Sanford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ticket Hawker

Original Name : Ezra Buzzington

Gender : Male

Character Name : Moderator

Original Name : James Lancaster

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jess (Toddler)

Original Name : Olivia Merg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jess (Toddler)

Original Name : Zoe Merg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scalper

Original Name : Johnny Liska

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in Hotel

Original Name : Russ Fega

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in Hotel

Original Name : Kevin Will

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ackerman

Original Name : Edward Hibbert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Burly Stagehand

Original Name : Christopher Judges

Gender : Male

Character Name : Blind Stagehand 1

Original Name : James Otis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Blind Stagehand 2

Original Name : Sam Menning

Gender : Male

Character Name : Blind Stagehand 3

Original Name : Brian Tahash

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carriage Driver

Original Name : Scott Davis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Glamorous Assistant

Original Name : Jodi Bianca Wise

Gender : Female

Character Name : Housekeeper

Original Name : Nikki Glick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Workman 1

Original Name : Enn Reitel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warder

Original Name : Clive Kennedy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Leonard

Original Name : Robert W. Arbogast

Gender : Male

Character Name : Will

Original Name : Chris Cleveland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Upscale London Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Rock Anthony

Gender : Male

Character Name : Piano Player 1 (uncredited)

Original Name : Tim Pilleri

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stagehand (uncredited)

Original Name : Gary Sievers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Handkerchief Lady (uncredited)

Original Name : Inna Swann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Erin Cipolletti

Gender : Female

Reviews

izgzhen

@izgzhen

2021-06-23

Perplexed by the storyline at the beginning, deeply attracted to the narratives of the intense rivalry between two actors in the main body of the show, and finally shocked by the revealed truth, or *The Prestige* in the end. This is one of the most mind-blowing mysteries that I've watched in recent years. One of the best part, I think, is how the characters of two young magicians are depicted -- through small but noticeable details like the facial expressions, one or two words, the novels et cetera. In fact, the title of the movie, even being explained by Cutter in the beginning, still puzzles me and I can't stopped thinking about the meaning of it. Not to mention other puzzles. But ultimately, I came to realize that the plot structure corresponds to a epic magic show as well.

AstroNoud

@AstroNoud

2022-02-26

There is great entertainment in seeing the two fellow-rivals battling each other, but it is only after the final twist that the viewer realises the entire film is a magic trick, a prestige, itself. 10/10

James

@JN2012

2023-10-20

Nolan should make more period dramas.

r96sk

@r96sk

2024-05-16

'The Prestige' is tremendous! An expertly made movie about magic, one that lasts just over two hours but it is most definitely 120mins+ well spent. I was sold by the whole vibe of it from the very beginning, sometimes you can just tell you're going to absolutely enjoy something from the opening minutes and this, for me, was one of those films. The casting is terrific, many well known faces appear. Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine (how about that speech), Christian Bale and Scarlett Johansson are all brilliant, the latter two do hold minimally iffy accents though; or maybe it was just me. There are a few other strong performers too, like Andy Serkis and David Bowie! No-one onscreen puts a foot wrong. Christopher Nolan is again back to his twisty best with this one. It's admittedly nothing as super deep as, say, 'Inception' and I did read where this one was going in certain aspects, though certainly not every angle - either way, it's just as thrilling to watch no matter how much or how little you pick up. Big fan of the way the film depicts its events throughout. Just now seeing how highly this is regarded, on Letterboxd at least. I know I do try to avoid as much as I can with movies, but based on the aforementioned I'm kinda shocked I hadn't heard anything about this growing up or even in recent years. Most of Nolan's other works I at least recall hearing through the grapevine, yet this one evidently somehow slipped through the net. Probably a good thing, mind you.

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-06-02

As ever with Christopher Nolan films the chronology needs close attention - as so many of the clues as to what the hell is actually going on require a considerable degree of concentration (and multiple viewings) before any semblance of quality emanates from the outwardly cluttered and, frankly, preposterous plot. We start with Christian Bale ("Borden") about to swing for the murder of Hugh Jackman ("Angier") but of course it is not that simple; and through a series of complex flashbacks we discover just how these two, erstwhile friends and colleagues, got themselves into this predicament. This is a story about ambition, obsession - to succeed and to hate; it has elements of love - both men have relationships, one the cause of their estrangement; the other (with Scarlett Johansson) continues to fuel it. The whole nature of their profession - illusionists; conjurers of/to the imagination - lends itself splendidly to the subject of this vendetta. The look of the film is first class, with Wally Pfister creating a gem of vivid imagery with some wonderful visual effects too. The performances are OK - they are not great; the dialogue is likewise. For a film essentially about seeing being believing (or not) the script is frequently too wordy and overpowers the subtle opportunities for the actors to demonstrate rather than speak their parts. Sir Michael Caine probably brings the most authentic accent to the proceedings - the others left me needing quite a bit of convincing; and the brief appearances of David Bowie as Tesla were a poor choice of casting, I felt. This is a good film, and I enjoyed it - but I did need to watch it 4 times before I felt half way comfortable writing anything down about it!