"The Prestige"
Another Urban Docent original, spoiler-free review
Last year's "The Prestige" is new to DVD this week. If you didn't see it on the large screen and you haven't yet seen the take-home edition, please allow me to offer you some insights.
Plot: Two magicians in golden-age London see their relationship take an unhealthy turn for the worst, and one becomes obsessed with out performing the other through the use of a trademark act. The rivalry turns into a sort of deadly chess match as one performer goes to unconventional lengths to come out on top.
Director Christopher Nolan's other efforts are notable for their solid stories, dark themes and moody tones, and "The Prestige" is no different. But this magical flick is really just a small step above other typical Hollywood studio releases due to its technical merits. In other words, I didn't see that Nolan did anything to try and out do his other efforts — it's just kind of standard-issue here for him.
Performances from lead actors Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale are just "good," not "great" by any stretch. The supporting cast — minus the performance of Michael Caine — is genuinely flat, predictable and sometimes forgettable; there are a few shinning moments, but not many.
Again, as a whole this movie is somewhat better than most of the other recent new releases, but I wouldn't run out to purchase it for later viewings. It's a solid "C+" title that rides a little higher in the saddle than some of its counterparts. It's nothing really special ....
To some degree, you would be better served to check out "X-Men: The Last Stand" and/or "Batman Begins" (if you haven't already) to see Jackman, Bale, Nolan and supporting casts putting forth stronger efforts.
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