'The Prestige' - a MC review

[ALIASd]

Just returned from seeing this film, and yes it's a magic time. Christopher Nolan's sleight of hand filmmaking is even more assured here than in 'Batman Begins'. His stars are stunning - Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Scarlett Johansson. Especially for the late 1800's! The heart of the film for me lies with the great Michael Caine. He's invaluable as always.
'The Prestige' also benefits immensely from the humor and presence here
in the wonderful supporting parts from David Bowie and Andy Serkis. With the right campaign Caine and Bowie could battle it out for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

I can see audience members making plans to see it again, to catch the illusions again and/or to figure out exactly what they'd just seen. Are you watching closely indeed.

'The Prestige' from Touchstone Pictures
opens Friday October 20
The film is rated PG-13

[ALIASd]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Here's how the this opening weekend looks, any guesses on the outcome?

Prestige pics battle at B.O.

Nolan pic takes on 'Flags,' 'Marie'

Clint Eastwood's 'Flags of Our Fathers'
takes on 'The Prestige' as kudos contenders head to B.O.

'The Prestige,' starring Michael Caine and Hugh Jackman,
follows 'The Illusionist' as the second magician-themed pic
in the marketplace.

By Ian Mohr
Variety
October 20, 2006

Clint Eastwood's WWII epic "Flags of Our Fathers" will have to fight off Christopher Nolan's magic-themed period piece "The Prestige" this weekend as studios start rolling out their big guns in the slog toward awards contention.

Also entering the fray will be Sony's Sofia Coppola-helmed "Marie Antoinette," the hipster twist on the story of the French queen that will target a mix of younger auds and arthouse denizens as it opens in just 859 engagements.

Sony also has another upmarket awards hopeful hitting screens, the lit adaptation "Running With Scissors," which starts its fall platform run in eight markets.

Fox is counterprogramming with family pic "Flicka" in 2,877 playdates as the frame's widest new rollout. Pic butts up against Disney's 3-D release of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas," which hits in time for Halloween at 168 engagements.

But frontrunners "Flags" and "Prestige" both face challenges in their effort to replace Sony horror sequel "The Grudge 2" at the top of the charts.

"Flags" will roll out on just 1,800 screens -- 481 less than "Prestige" -- since Paramount has chosen to take a slow-and-steady release path, rather than try a blitz, based on Eastwood's track record.

Par brass said they have targeted 1,800 engagements by looking at the behavior of Eastwood's 2003 effort "Mystic River," which opened on 1,470 to take in $10.4 million on its way to $90 million-plus.

Venerable helmer's follow-up, "Million Dollar Baby," bowed in 2004 in 2,000 playdates, nailing a $12.3 million first frame before wrapping up $100.5 million and a best pic Oscar.

Par will be happy with a finish in the low eight figures for "Flags," which will skew toward older males.

Meanwhile, "Prestige," opening in 2,281 playdates, comes on the heels of another, unexpectedly popular pic with magic themes, the Yari Group's "The Illusionist." Edward Norton starrer has performed above expectations, taking in $36.5 million to date.

"Prestige" could very well conjure a young demo with stars Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952292.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

[sir clinksalot]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Can't wait to see this movie. It looks SO good.

[ALIASd]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Can't wait to see this movie. It looks SO good.

I'll be seeing it again sometime this weekend. Gotta catch a few more things!

[sir clinksalot]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

^ I love movies like that. Where you have to see it a few times to see everything.

It's going to be a few weeks for us though.

[Tui]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Is it similar to the Illusionist? Because from what I can see in the trailer it looks very smilar.

[ALIASd]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Is it similar to the Illusionist? Because from what I can see in the trailer it looks very smilar.

This film is rooted in the rivalry of the two magicians, with the great wedge between them - revenge. Damn all costs to themselves and every one around them. Someone always wants to be the best.

But at one point Christian Bale's character does adopt very similar facial hair to Edward Norton's character in 'The Illusionist', also a very good film.

Here's TIME magazine's version:

That Old-Fashioned Magic on the Big Screen

This is the second movie of recent months to take up the subject of old-time magic. The other is Neil Burger's The IllusionistThe Prestige, which is much more ambitious intellectually.

But in any case the magical capacities of film have only increased over the decades, especially in our own digital era. And the fact that The Prestige (and The Illusionist

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1548716-2,00.html

[Alchimedes]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

I want to see this! Bale and Caine bring some great acting to this. Can't wait.

[MasterGracey]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

I CANNOT WAIT to see this film. Just gotta find the time now!

[dramaqueen]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Its getting exellent reviews. I don't think Touchstone has put out a film of this caliber in quite some time. I can't wait to see it tonight!

[MTNGIRL]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

I'm excited too! It's tonights date night movie selection!

[lisaboo]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Just got back from seeing it as well. Can't stop throwing our theories around. At what point can we start discussing it and not spoil those who haven't seen it?

[ALIASd]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Just got back from seeing it as well. Can't stop throwing our theories around. At what point can we start discussing it and not spoil those who haven't seen it?

I'd say post away but do use the SPOILER BOX above so as not to giveaway any of the film's secrets. We don't want you to disappear!

[lisaboo]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Okay then...

Spoiler

What are your theories about the ending. I originally thought that Mr. Angier/The Great Dangier/Hugh Jackman's character had done the trick one last time and that is why you saw him in the box at the end. Only this time the lock was the trick one so that he could get out as soon as Christian Bale's character left and still be alive. I thought this because Cutter/Michael Caine's character told him at the end that he had lied about drowning. But my fiance said that he said that just to make him feel bad for all the "clones" he had drowned. So then I was thinking, didn't we see a huge line of those boxes? Were those all of the "clones" from each show still in the boxes they drowned in. Had he just come to the theatre to burn everything and the evidence along with it now that he had *thought* Christain Bale was done for and he had "won"? It's all so confusing. I love it!

Interested to see what others who have seen the movie think. I still haven't made up my mind.

[pveticket]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

I'm seeing it today, cant wait!

[mycroft16]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

We went and saw it last night. Every show in town sold out. Was such an amazing movie. Can't wait to see it again. Very good story, amazingly written. Everybody needs to go see it so we can start discussing without spoiler boxes

Spoiler

At the end when you see him in the box, there are some small bubbles coming out of his nose. At least it looked like it, right before it goes to black. Going to have to see it again to make sure, but it seems like The Great Danton is alive and still ticking. Those guys are both amazing at what they do and thinking the others moves out in advance.

[RooBear]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

From my understanding, a fairly large segment happens here in Colorado Springs. There are shots of the "Cliff House" and Pikes Peak.

And it is also where I live!

If only Hugh Jackman and Christain Bale came here for a visit!

Peace,
Roo

[HeavensLight]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

I really wanted to like The Prestige. I liked Batman Begins very much and it's directed by the same guy. I loved The Illusionist, which is much better than Prestige for my money. While I wanted to root for someone, they were both so low and unappealing I couldn't stand either one of them. Unlike most here, I gave up caring about the tricks, unable to care about anyone except the wife. I was glad it was over. Now I want to see The Illusionist again. That's a world I could relive over and over, and I love the music. This one isn't for me but it looks like it will be popular.

[pveticket]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

I'm seeing it today, cant wait!

I ended up not..
But im seeing "Tamara" tonight on pay per view at 9....lol

[MasterGracey]

Re: 'The Prestige' - a MC review

Just got home from seeing the film.

Absolutely enthralling. Sure, at times it was slow, but never enough to bore me. And the film certainly makes you think about what just happened. I'm still going over everything...

Spoiler

So I'm going to assume that Christian Bale's character(s) were twins, right? They weren't clones as were Hugh Jackman's, correct? After all, Christian Bale did visit David Bowie way before Hugh did - so maybe he "cloned" himself with something Bowie's character had created for him? Who knows. I'm going to just stick with that assumption that they were twin brothers, not clones...

Gotta see this film again sometime to watch even more closely. Really great stuff in this movie.

Oh, and interesting catch, mycroft16, I didn't see what you saw, but maybe I missed it...