Culture Crash: Never Getting Tired of the Film, “The Prestige”

Do you remember the first movie that really captured your whole attention? I recently re-watched The Prestige, Christopher Nolan’s 2006 movie about warring magicians around the turn of the century. It stars Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, and I’ve considered it to be my favorite movie ever since I first saw it in theaters at 13. I saw it opening weekend when my friend and I headed into a crowded theater. We had no option but to watch the film from the first couple of rows and though that’s not an ideal place to see a movie on the big screen, I was still completely transported by a film for the first time.

The Prestige tackles obsession, betrayal, and an intense back-and-forth battle that sees people killed, disfigured, and abandoned. It has a dark, propulsive intensity about it, and it memorably unfolds in a signature Nolan non-linear timeline, which keeps the audience on their toes.

I’ve seen it many times over the years, and it always manages to blow me away. This most recent time I watched it, I was really taken with the craft behind such a film. The sets are rich in detail, with vintage-looking posters, contraptions and stages dominating the screen. The plotting and editing are perfect, and the film really all clicks together in a way few others manage to pull off. It really is an astounding achievement. It captured me at 13, and it still gets me 16 years later. If you want to catch up with my favorite, The Prestige, is now streaming on Prime Video, but I’d also encourage you to go back and re-watch your old favorites. In my experience, I’ve found there’s always something new to appreciate.