The Prestige (2006)

Réalisateur:

Christopher Nolan

Writers (WGA):

Jonathan Nolan (screenplay) and
Christopher Nolan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 octobre 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drame | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Accroche:

A friendship that became a rivalry. A rivalry that turned deadly. (DVD)

Plot:

Robert and Alfred are rival magicians. When Alfred performs the ultimate magic trick, Robert tries desperately to find out the secret to the trick.

Plot Keywords:

Showmanship | Death | 1890s | 1900s | Teleportation

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 14 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

A Stylish, Uniquely Twisted Period Piece

Ensemble

Hugh Jackman	...	Robert Angier
Christian Bale	...	Alfred Borden
Michael Caine	...	Cutter
Piper Perabo	...	Julia McCullough / Angier
Rebecca Hall	...	Sarah Borden
Scarlett Johansson	...	Olivia Wenscombe
Samantha Mahurin	...	Jess Borden
David Bowie	...	Nikola Tesla
Andy Serkis	...	Alley
Daniel Davis	...	Judge
Jim Piddock	...	Prosecutor
Christopher Neame	...	Defender
Mark Ryan	...	Captain
Roger Rees	...	Owens
Jamie Harris	...	Sullen Warder

Autre(s) titre(s) :

Prestige, Le (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images.

Durée:

130 min

Pays:

USA | UK

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Couleur

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Son:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Classification:

Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Germany:12 | Denmark:11 | UK:12A | Argentina:13 | Norway:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42935) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:12A | Netherlands:12 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Sweden:11 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Portugal:M/12 | Philippines:R-13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Italy:T | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:18PL | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-11 | France:U

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

Belasco Theatre - 1060 S. Hill Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Newmarket Productions

Anecdotes:

Alfred Borden takes on the stage name of "The Professor". This is the nickname that was given to Dai Vernon, the man many consider to be the best modern day sleight of hand magician.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Angier refers to the trick of sawing a woman in half, but, as Christopher Priest explains in the novel "The Prestige", this trick was only devised in the 1920's, two decades after this story's setting.

Guillemet:

[first lines]
Alfred Borden: Are you watching closely?

Connexions De Film:

Featured in The Director's Notebook (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Analyse

A Stylish, Uniquely Twisted Period Piece

What "The Prestige" does very well is recreate a period of show business history near the turn of the century in which competition between magicians was serious and intense. The workings of the complicated illusions are gorgeously brought to life via smartly detailed apparatus that replicate the actual mechanics of Victorian legerdemain.

Much of the film rings very true, such as the all-consuming obsessions of the lead characters to be the best and outdo all others. It's an easy step to accept that such unwavering determination spills over into deadly territory, as rival magicians suave Rupert Angier (a riveting performance by Hugh Jackman) and audacious Alfred Borden (Christian Bale effortlessly playing a brooding lower-class Brit) each seek to wreak continuing revenge upon the other.

The story, though adapted from a novel, feels like a perfect fit for director Nolan's sensibilities, as the machinations of the two men become increasingly convoluted during a back-and-forth tug of wits that keeps you guessing in the style of Nolan's "Memento." As the game grows increasingly deadly, and threatens to consume all they love, the film becomes a fascinating study in single-mindedness.

The work is epic in sweep, beautifully filmed, and strongly acted. The only odd note in casting is David Bowie as Nikola Tesla (he looks nothing like the actual Tesla, if you care about these sort of things, and his appearance calls attention to itself as superstar casting often does), but Mr. Bowie holds his own. Solid performances are all around, with Michael Caine adding dignity and depth as the old master, Scarlett Johanssen as the as the lovely stage assistant who becomes the third point in a twisted love triangle, and even Andy Serkis (Gollum!) in a memorable supporting role.

The introduction of Tesla adds yet another twist, as the film shifts from real-but-possible stage illusion to steam-punkish sci-fi. This transition is a hard note to pull off, since the beginning of the film doesn't quite suggest such a direction, but if you're willing to let Nolan lead you on the journey into increasingly fantastic realms, the narrative rewards you with thought-provoking moral and dramatic exploration of the issues raised.

A truly entertaining movie, and an original, unusual, dark ride -- well worth seeing in a theater for its grand scope and vision.