The Prestige

"The Prestige" is a complex piece of storytelling that keeps you guessing throughout. It's also a dark story of two magicians continually trying to outdo the other, sometimes in life-threatening ways.

Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Borden (Christian Bale) start out as two apprentice magicians in the early 1900s waiting for their chance to start up their own unique show. Both are intensely focused on one-upping the other, while also pushing the limits of performing magical acts without being killed. Their rivalry turns to hatred after Angier's wife is killed in an act where Borden has tied her knots too tightly to escape a tank of water.

From there the story is told in flashbacks as each man reads the other's diary to gain insight into how magic tricks are performed. The ongoing competition between the two is recounted from the memory of the other. While that may sound confusing, it plays well on-screen. From the beginning we know that Borden is in jail. What we don't know is how the story will resolve itself. There is a mystery behind every character, and a lack of trustworthiness throughout.

For magicians, the phrase "the prestige" refers to the applause and glory the magician receives after a trick. For as much as Angier and Borden long for the prestige, neither allows himself the luxury of being happy in his success. Their sole motivation isn't so much to receive accolades, but rather to make sure the other guy doesn't receive the prestige at all.

Jackman and Bale are great throughout, and the finale sews up any missing pieces nicely. Coming from the mind behind "Memento", "The Prestige" is a quality piece of entertainment that won't leave you mentally drained, but rather feeling satisfied with the darkness of the magic that unfolded on the screen. I wouldn't shout for an encore, but I will give "The Prestige" an A.

"The Prestige" is rated PG-13 with a running time of 128 minutes.