The Prestige AKA Let's get this thread right (SPOILERS)

[mikejet]

So the last time we all tried to discuss this movie it derailed into madness.

I watched it again recently and something that I didn't catch on to struck me.

My question is very simple, why didn't they just reveal the trick to the two women?

It would have prevented her from hanging herself. Was he that selfish that he had to keep the secret above all? Or was he worried that if he had revealed it then she would question who she was with each time?

[Monolithium]

Originally Posted by mikejet

My question is very simple, why didn't they just reveal the trick to the two women?

It would have prevented her from hanging herself. Was he that selfish that he had to keep the secret above all? Or was he worried that if he had revealed it then she would question who she was with each time?

That is what I always believed.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Monolithium

That is what I always believed.

[Show spoiler]If he has revealed what was going on with the two women it would've spoiled the movie because then you know what's going on before it ends.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

[Show spoiler]If he has revealed what was going on with the two women it would've spoiled the movie because then you know what's going on before it ends.

I don't think it's a simple plot gimmick.

[charlieray1]

Was he that selfish that he had to keep the secret above all?

Absolutely.

He is so committed to his magic that he has devoted his entire life to his art. Nothing -- and no one -- matters as much. Remember the scene with the elderly Chinese magician who lives as a cripple? Remember how his real trick is that he isn't crippled at all, but he maintains that ruse every waking hour of his life for the sake of the goldfish bowl trick? He lives every single day stooped and bent when he doesn't have to because his act is the most important thing in his life. Same thing here. That's why that scene with the Chinese magician is in the film.

These are obsessed, unhealthy people. The whole film is about obsession.

[tommyboy81]

yeah but i swear in one of the scenes she tells him she knows. It was when they were having the fight. I think.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

Absolutely.

He is so committed to his magic that he has devoted his entire life to his art. Nothing -- and no one -- matters as much. Remember the scene with the elderly Chinese magician who lives as a cripple? Remember how his real trick is that he isn't crippled at all, but he maintains that ruse every waking hour of his life for the sake of the goldfish bowl trick? He lives every single day stooped and bent when he doesn't have to because his act is the most important thing in his life. Same thing here. That's why that scene with the Chinese magician is in the film.

These are obsessed, unhealthy people. The whole film is about obsession.

Yep. To be the best. Do what it takes.

[vegeta88]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

yeah but i swear in one of the scenes she tells him she knows. It was when they were having the fight. I think.

She says she knows, but does she really know? I think she says "I know what you are." Not very specific, if you ask me.
Interesting tidbit from IMDB:

Sarah's line "I know what you are" was not in the script. Rebecca Hall said that she felt terrible right after she said it, thinking she had given away the ending.

[Foggy]

Tried to find the proper thread with the massive discussion, but was struggling (it's like Christopher Nolan's name is mentioned on pretty much every thread on this site or something).

Anyway, great analysis on how Nolan takes on The Prestige, over time my adoration for the film only grows, how many films effortlessly jump between so many separate periods of time and plotlines quite like this, it's insane.

The Prestige: Hiding In Plain Sight - YouTube

[levcore]

The only Nolan film I love, truly a work of brilliance.

That said the book is way better.

[stvn1974]

Not as bad as the rest of Nolan's work but still pretty bad. The Illusionist is better.

[Hellraiserfan]

One of my favorite Nolan films.

I haven't watched it in awhile so I don't remember the quote, but Bale's character mentions to Jackman (I believe at the end) how much bigger his obsession was and what he went through for it.

People already brought up the Chinese magician so I don't need to explain that as well.

[imsounoriginal]

There was an article trying to explain how the ridiculously inane third act does somehow make sense and the movie doesn't completely go from relatively realistic to batshit fantasy -- does anything have this article/link? Would appreciate it. I've tried to give this movie the benefit of the doubt but having seen it twice, it's easily Nolan's worst.

[Hellraiserfan]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

There was an article trying to explain how the ridiculously inane third act does somehow make sense and the movie doesn't completely go from relatively realistic to batshit fantasy -- does anything have this article/link? Would appreciate it. I've tried to give this movie the benefit of the doubt but having seen it twice, it's easily Nolan's worst.

I think that goes to Insomnia, which I also liked but I simply can't agree that The Prestige is "easily" his worst.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Hellraiserfan

I think that goes to Insomnia, which I also liked but I simply can't agree that The Prestige is "easily" his worst.

Nah there's one that clearly explains how the third act of The Prestige works from a more "realistic" standpoint and the movie doesn't totally turn into a sci-fi movie at the point we find out Jackman is literally cloning himself. (Thought I had bookmarked it but now I can't find it.) I think the first two-thirds of the movie are brilliant, but the last 45 minutes or so tank the whole thing. But I'd be willing to give it another chance if the last act could be explained.

Maybe it's not "easily" his worst (he did Dark Knight Rises, after all), but it's by far my least favorite of his movies and the only one I don't own.

[JoeKryten]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

There was an article trying to explain how the ridiculously inane third act does somehow make sense and the movie doesn't completely go from relatively realistic to batshit fantasy -- does anything have this article/link? Would appreciate it. I've tried to give this movie the benefit of the doubt but having seen it twice, it's easily Nolan's worst.

My best friend argued this point with me at the time. It's my belief that The Illusionist (which came out around the same time and had a similar story) was much more of a "cheat" than The Prestige.

Simply put, the characters in The Illusionist state out front that the magic they perform is simply heightened sleight of hand that has a logical and believable explanation. By the end of the film, the "magic" that they are performing is literally NOT POSSIBLE. Not even in modern times. Simply put, they cheat the ending.

The Prestige doesn't cheat. Jackman and Bale are performing "magicians". Jackman is more charismatic and Bale is insanely dedicated. The wildcard in the film is the inclusion of Tesla.

IRL Tesla was a fascinating person. A genius and also quite likely insane later in his life. Much of the "science" that he pursued later in his life would have fit in easily in the TV show Fringe. (The only one that I remember is that he worked quite hard in trying to invent "death rays" that US forces could use).

While fantastical, it's not too much of a stretch that Tesla might have attempted to discover a means to "teleport".

So, both The Prestige and The Illusionist are fantastical. The main difference being that The Illusionist INSISTS that the illusions portrayed in the film were possible (which they weren't by the end) and does not explain how the impossibilities came to be.

The Prestige DOES give you an explanation. Is it purely fantasy? Yes. Did it lose some of the audience in the twist switch from "period magician tale" to "fantastical story about obsession"? Yes. But it makes sense as long as you're willing to make the switch.

Of course, there's the issue of Tesla's age being all wrong in the film, but that's another argument...

[Impossible]

Prestige is his best film, Inception is his worst by FAR!

[dgoswald]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

Absolutely.

He is so committed to his magic that he has devoted his entire life to his art. Nothing -- and no one -- matters as much. Remember the scene with the elderly Chinese magician who lives as a cripple? Remember how his real trick is that he isn't crippled at all, but he maintains that ruse every waking hour of his life for the sake of the goldfish bowl trick? He lives every single day stooped and bent when he doesn't have to because his act is the most important thing in his life. Same thing here. That's why that scene with the Chinese magician is in the film.

These are obsessed, unhealthy people. The whole film is about obsession.

+ 1. That's how I saw it too. The Chinese magician / fish bowl scene was the key to understanding one of the central themes of the film.

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

yeah but i swear in one of the scenes she tells him she knows. It was when they were having the fight. I think.

Do you mean Sarah? If I recall correctly, she surmised what was going on (

[Show spoiler]in terms of Borden and Fallon swapping roles

) and confronted Borden. Soon after

[Show spoiler]she killed herself.

As an aside, after watching The Prestige, I desperately hoped Jackman would get the role for Harvey Dent / Two Face, but that was wishful thinking on my part.

[levcore]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Nah there's one that clearly explains how the third act of The Prestige works from a more "realistic" standpoint and the movie doesn't totally turn into a sci-fi movie at the point we find out Jackman is literally cloning himself. (Thought I had bookmarked it but now I can't find it.) I think the first two-thirds of the movie are brilliant, but the last 45 minutes or so tank the whole thing. But I'd be willing to give it another chance if the last act could be explained.

Maybe it's not "easily" his worst (he did Dark Knight Rises, after all), but it's by far my least favorite of his movies and the only one I don't own.

If you weren't impressed with all of the movie I highly recommend the book, it is far more satisfying and the ending is amazing.

[MachineGod]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

There was an article trying to explain how the ridiculously inane third act does somehow make sense and the movie doesn't completely go from relatively realistic to batshit fantasy -- does anything have this article/link? Would appreciate it. I've tried to give this movie the benefit of the doubt but having seen it twice, it's easily Nolan's worst.

It and Memento are generally considered his very best by most fans. And the Machine in the third act is very important to the films themes even if it comes out of no where.