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The Pledge:

In a year full of monotony and bizarrely repetitious films, such as Hollywoodland and The Black Dahlia, both focusing on famous unsolved mysteries, or back to back Oscar-worthy Truman Capote films (Capote and Infamous), it doesn't surprise me to see two turn-of-the-century magician movies either. Both The Illusionist and The Prestige rely on shock value, twist endings and misdirection to amaze and intrigue the viewer, and both are extremely well made films. While The Illusionist takes a lighter fairy tale approach to an otherwise daunting storyline, The Prestige travels down a more sinister and elusive path.

Two young magicians, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) start out as assistants to a mentor illusionist, and hope to eventually be admired and respected entertainers themselves. When Angier's wife is accidentally drowned during a particularly dangerous water escape trick, he blames Alfred, who was responsible for tying up her arms. Unable to cope with the loss, the two become bitter enemies, and begin an injurious game of outdoing and one-upping each other's tricks and performances, until moral boundaries are crossed, and insidious interference measures are utilized. When Borden develops a stunning and crowd-gathering transportation trick, Angier will stop at nothing to learn its secret and to recreate it with his flashier showman approach. Scarlett Johansson plays the assistant Olivia, who is tossed between the two, at once a spy and a lover. And Michael Caine gives another outstanding performance as Cutter, an engineer who designs the various mechanical components for both magicians' tricks.

The Turn:

While many critics are quick to make comparisons between the The Illusionist and The Prestige, both films employ magic as a backdrop to a more involving theme. The Illusionist is at heart a love story, while The Prestige is an engrossing tale of revenge, retribution, and deception. One of the most tantalizing aspects of the film is the perpetual evolution of the main characters. "Watch closely" cautions the opening monologue, and heed the warning well. With exceptionally dynamic characters, Nolan has ensured never to let the viewer know who they should be rooting for. And the corkscrew evolution of events, including jumping from one point in time to another and occasional flashbacks for reiteration, will keep you guessing until the inconceivable climax. Perhaps too complex for the average viewer, the twists and turns and constant misdirection, like that of the perfect magic trick, generate nonstop entertainment and allure. Since none of the characters can really be trusted, neither can the events being witnessed onscreen. With excellent cinematography and mystifying lighting, everything you believe to be true in one scene can radically become fiction in the next. Christopher Nolan's trademark chaotic timeline occasionally lends to confusion, but unquestionably adds to the satisfaction of the resolution.

The Prestige:

Equally awe-inspiring is the labyrinthine script and haunting dialogue, churned together with a hearty blend of humor, intelligence, and poignancy. If at any time during the film you think you've figured a few things out, rest assured, that's where the masterful diversionary tactics really kick in. Outstanding performances and chemistry all around, you'll be despising and loving each of the characters simultaneously and probably for the wrong reasons. A mature, abracadabra brain tickler for anyone ready to be submerged in a grandiose tale of deceit and revenge, The Prestige is a brilliant piece of cinematic entertainment.

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