The FiFi Report 150

The Prestige ..directed by Christopher Nolan
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Period Piece, Magic with Science Fiction
Who: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, Michael Caine, Andy Serkis
The Plot: Early 20th-century London: Two magicians Rupert Angier and Alfred Bordon work together. Become bitter rivals. They play tricks on each other. Scarlett Johansson turns up. Pouts and flounces wearing sexy outfits as the Magician’s assistant. We see more magic tricks. Michael Caine plays a cockney. Surprise. David Bowie plays a freaky scientist. Surprise. The film twists and turns and flits back and forth between time and place. More mean and menacing magic tricks. More nifty twists and fiendish turns. More dangerous glints in eyes. More mysteries up their sleeve. Who is playing tricks on who? The end.
Acting: Christian Bale is fantastic. Hugh Jackman is the fluffy Boy from Oz.
Photography: Fantastic. “We did most of the photography with a handheld camera and shot with Panavision Anamorphic lenses. It’s beautiful, crisp, grain-free image"  says director Christopher Nolan
Design: A sumptuous, opulent, lavish period piece it’s full of dark, gloomy colors and a palpable feeling of menace.
Wardrobe: Deconstructed Gothic Victorian. Scarlett channels Kylie Minogue in skimpy little corsets. The magicians wear alot of dark colour flouncing in hats and capes.
Salon de Beaute: Scarlett has perfect makeup. More 1950’s than 1900. Hugh Jackman has very 70’s Liberace hair. Christian Bale is handsome.
Botox: Watch as David Bowie tries to frown. It never happens. Christian Bale tries as well and Hugh Jackman has deep wrinkles. Bless.
Waterproof mascara: No laughing or crying = no need for waterproof mascara.
Bloodnguts: We see fingers chopped off. We see people drown.
Mind drifted to shopping: Not once
Smokin’ smooches: Smooches but no smoke (except in the magic tricks)
Car chases: Just chases but no cars.
Rename it: The Sixth Sense goes Gothic
Best Reviews: “ Entertaining, spirited and shamelessly gimmicky “A.O. Scott, New York Times or “A frequently dazzling display of cinematic sleight-of-hand from writer/director Christopher Nolan it’s an entertaining, handsomely produced period thriller" Reel.com
Best Worst Reviews: “Marvel as I take a page from the U.S. government and snap my fingers to create a 700 mile fence around Scarlett Johansson’s cleavage. Yes, that would leave 350 miles of bosom unprotected, but we must all sacrifice for our art” MovieJuice OR “Its third act is about as convincing as a photo of a cow jumping over the moon.” New York Daily News
See it or donate to the Prada Bag fund? It’s Magic. It’s fantasy. It’s as pleasurable as any Prada bag.
http://theprestige.movies.go.com/