Oppenheimer is here! So another great excuse to do a Christopher Nolan movie. And this is a request from friends that goes back years and years and also I love this movie! So let's do it! Here's everything right with The Prestige!
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If you pay close attention, you can actually tell in EVERY scene Borden is in which one is Albert and which one is Frederick (for those of you who don’t know, that is the name of each of them as their names together form “Alfred.”) Frederick: the one who follows Angier down below the stage and every subsequent scene of him in prison/trial/execution. Obviously. Frederick: first time we see Borden when he’s on the stage performing the underwater trick since he flies off the handle more and discusses changing knots. Albert: the one who sees the show with the Chinese man. This COULD be Frederick but he just seems softer and nicer to Angier. Albert: the one who performs the bird trick with Virgil and follows Sarah and her nephew. Frederick is the one waiting for her in her apartment pouring tea. Frederick: the one who talks to Sarah about the bullet catch. Obviously it’s him because she catches him when she doesn’t believe him when he says “I love you.” Also when she mentions she’s pregnant and he says, “We should’ve told Fallon!” Because he knew he’s the father. Albert: the one who visits Angier. “I’m sorry for your loss, Angier.” He didn’t know which knot his brother tied and he’s nicer and sincere. Albert: the one performing the ring trick and gets his fingers shot off. Frederick: “it’s as bad as it was.” “We can’t AFFORD (bang!) the bloody doctor back.” Albert: the one who pulled the key for his family and said, “You caught me in the wrong mood.” Albert/Frederick: performing the transported man trick. Don’t know who’s who though. Frederick: the one Olivia initially talks to when Angier sends her there. Frederick: the one who manipulates Root in the bar and takes Angier’s spot in his magic act. Just a viciousness that Frederick demonstrates. Albert: the one who gets trapped in the coffin. This is apparent because later at dinner, it’s obviously Frederick who was being called “Freddy” by Olivia (which he likes because it more closely resembles his real name.) and since he was the one who said he thought he’d lost something very dear to him (his brother). Albert: the one who talks to Jess about going to the zoo and can barely look at Olivia 5 minutes later. Frederick: the one who gets into a shouting match with Sarah and really loses it when she says “I know what you really are...” (an improvised line by Rebecca Hall by the way which is really cool) and even more heartbreaking to see Albert (as Fallon) picking up Jess sweetly while she cries. Frederick: the one who tries to win back Olivia after Sarah’s suicide, assuring he never loved Sarah. Albert: “They do this after every show? We’re done. I don’t need his trick. The two of us, we’ll just leave him alone. We’re done.” Albert: the one at the end who kills Angier and picks up Jess from Cutter. So props to Christian Bale for subtly portraying 2 different people that’s obvious after many viewings but subtle enough to not spoil it for someone’s first time watching. And it becomes clear that between Angier, Albert and Frederick, 2 of the 3 were “bad” and one was good. Albert was kind, a good father, a wonderful magician, but not obsessed, didn’t kill Julia, and by the end, just wanted to be there for his daughter. Anyway, I thought maybe this would help some of you who didn’t understand parts of the movie to enjoy it more. The Prestige is a masterpiece.
If Albert were "good" he'd have told Sarah, spoiling the trick for literally nobody else.
Curious, my idea was always that it was Albert the "nicer" one that gets executed in the end. Since he clearly loves his daughter when he's in prison. Also it follows in the theme of the movie where Albert gets punished (shot in the hand/executed for Frederiks actions). It also makes more sense if Albert, the more ingeneur one, is the one checking the machine and backstage to figure out Angiers trick. Frederik is the performer, while Albert is the backstage guy (this also how they do their trick, since Albert doesn't care about the "prestige" of the audience). The two performancers, Angier and Frederik, can't stop competing with each other, while Albert always feels more done with tricks and maybe even with magic and wants to focus on his family. That is my head canon at least.
@@B1Boah Fredericks last words to "Fallon" are something along the lines of "Im sorry about Sarah, i know you loved her". Since Sarah was Alberts wife, i think its safe to say that Frederick got executed. And imo its a good ending. Frederick, the cocky one, goes too far (when his brother tells him that they're done, that they should stop) and "pays" for his actions. And Albert, taking revenge on Angier and getting his daughter back
> you can actually tell in EVERY scene Borden is in which one is Albert and which one is Frederick How, exactly?
@@KoushakurHe describes how in each scene. The mannerisms and what they say. Did you not read?
The fact that there are like 5+ twists in this movie and they all work is incredible
Srsly my jaw physically dropped multiple times in that movie
One important thematic point you didn't touch on: out of the three individuals in this rivalry, the one that survives is the one that was able to let go of the obsession. The twin that ends up framed for Angier's murder wasn't able to stop himself from trying to figure out and outthink Angier, while the other one out right says he doesn't need the trick and that he's done. The twin that lives doesn't kill Angier out of obsession, he does it to avenge the murder of his brother. That's why he's the one who gets to walk away into the sunset with his daughter; because he was able to let go.
He's still a villain. He allowed his magic-obsessed brother to ruin nearly every single relationship in his life, cause the death of an innocent woman, ruin his mentor's reputation and job, sabotage a magic trick that harmed ANOTHER innocent woman just to fuck with Angier (who he could have harmed another way to avenge his lost fingers, but instead broke the fingers of an absolutely random bystander), and then CONTINUES to escalate the situation by sabotaging him until it cripples one of his legs. I'm not entirely sure of how often "Fallon" was playing the family man, but it's quite likely his wife committed suicide when she realized she was probably tricked into having sex with her brother-in-law with her husband's consent. And he has the gal to accuse Angier of hurting people. Frankly, I think Angier was just too convoluted with his revenge. In his place, I would have shot the bastard in the head the moment I saw him in the backstage and claimed legitimate defense to the police.
That's the kind of "happy ending" I can get behind, and what seems to be a running theme in Nolan's films. All his main characters, both heroes and villains, seem to have some sort of obsession or strong focus that drives them. The ones who show willingness to give up the obsession for the sake of the next generation get to escape... and the ones who give in are lost. The side characters don't all follow this pattern, but I feel like the average main protagonists and antagonists definitely do (I haven't seen Tenet or Dunkirk though so I could be way off). I love how it's sort of ambiguous in Inception whether or not Cobb was in one group or the other, hence the ending.
@@DeathMessenger1988 He's still a villain, yes, but he's symbolically redeemed at the end of the film when his brother (who could be seen as symbolically representing their obsession) dies. It's by no action of his own, no, and it doesn't excuse what he's _already_ done, but in my mind, the story exists on the symbolic plane more so than the literal one.
@@BrickstarStudios I don't care about things on symbolic plane. I care about things on logical, material plane. And for all intents and purposes, Borden ruined four lives (Julia, Angier, Sarah and Cutter), is guilty of two murders and gaslighting his own wife into suicide, never mind the criminal sabotage of a business rival and his only punishment is losing his twin (the instigator and partner if not the guilty party of said crimes) and having to go into hiding with his daughter and abandon the magician career (which matters zero to him, since he can easily disguise himself a new identity). He's the one who lost the least, did the most harm and didn't redeem himself in any meaningful way.
@@DeathMessenger1988 Fair enough; everyone watches movies differently. I definitely don't approve of Borden's actions (in fact, that kept me from enjoying the movie for a while), but because of the symbolism, I've come around to appreciate the movie a little bit more since I first saw it.
This was my favorite movie for a while. Had no idea who these actors were when I saw it, but have always been a huge Nikolai Tesla fan
Batman v Wolverine. And even features a Serkis Caine wielding dual Alfred cameo. 🤓
Me with Interview with a Vampire. I’m glad I saw it back then, now I can’t unsee Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise 😭
It's still my all-time favorite!
While similar, Nikolai and Nikola are different names - East Slavic and South Slavic interpretations of a Greek name.
What's your favourite nowadays?
A twin! A twin brother!? He said it was too easy too simple Simple yes, easy? No, it’s never easy sharing the same life. One of Nolan’s many underrated classics
Let me quote Gravity Falls: "He had a twin brother the whole time? That's the twist we have been waiting for?"
This is easily my favorite Nolan movie, and while he has become a more confident visual director, I don’t think he will ever be a better storyteller than in this film.
@@KaleighCee Oppenheimer has the benefit of being a real story, so it's a bit harder to bonce up the narrative. But only a bit.
@@KaleighCee I have seen Oppenheimer but I need to watch it again with subtitles before I can judge lol. I couldn't understand like 10% of the damn lines.
@@KaleighCee That's a fair opinion, and one I can agree with, at least when it comes to Dunkirk and Tenet. Both of those movies feel colder to me, because they lack a human element, or perhaps an investment into the main characters' motivations. I'm not gonna spoil Oppenheimer for you, but I will say it is more character based, which, to me, makes it his best movie since Interstellar, maybe even better than it.
Hard agree. Ever since The Dark Knight Rises I’ve found it really difficult to connect it his characters. I can’t put my finger on exactly why but there’s just something off about the dialogue/the way they act and as a result I feel I was being told to feel something during the emotional moments, rather than feeling them naturally. Although Oppenheimer was an improvement in that regard. The Prestige is the film where I think he got his balance of intricate plot and characters just right.
@@KaleighCee >not that Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, Dark Knight etc. etc. aren't good I like how this fool tries to pretend that some of the most innovative and genre-defining blockbusters of the last decade+ that will be talked about till the end of this century are like some generic MCU flicks one can watch and enjoy and then forget about. >I just think there's been a decline into emphasizing the visual over the fundamental building blocks of movies No, it hasn't. All of his movies have stayed the same in terms of method and depth and always remained complex and with deep character work. >(Tenant) That's not what the movie is called, Einstein.
I didn't notice the twist right until it was fully revealed. On rewatch, I feel like it's soooooo obvious. That's how well it's done. I've watched it half a dozen times since then with friends and family, and throughout the film I keep thinking, oh surelyyyyy they're gonna catch on now. No one has got it. It's so perfectly hidden in plain sight, hard to spot but hinted at throughout the film. One of the best plot twists ever!
yeah, a lot of movies that rely on a BIG TWIST at the end, tend to get weaker and weaker on rewatch.... but the truly great ones are EVEN better on re-watch, as you can piece together the clues.... movies like this one, or The Usual Suspects, are such a treat to watch again and again... always notice something new.
I think the best thing about the film is there is no set “good guy” or “bad guy”. Both Borden and Angiers are protagonist and antagonist in equal measure. Bale and Jackman put in literal performances of their lives. For me this film is perfect, there’s so little that could be improved and even all this time later and having watched it so many times I still love watching it.
The good guy is the brother who lived I'd say.... but they are all shades of grey really.
Actually Angier is without a doubt the bad guy. Aside from the fact that he is only doing magic for his own pleasure from getting attention - he is the one who started the war and shot Bordens fingers off (Albert) while Fred may have been a bit reckless BUT Angiers wife AGREED to using the other knot. It's not like he did it against her will. In fact, the way he is shown in the movie, there is a very good chance he wouldnt have done that knot without her consent to it. Angier just channeled ALL his anger towards Borden despite the wife being equally responsible and it just being unfortunate. And even after Angier shot Alberts fingers, all Fred did was ruin his one trick. Next Angier tells his lover Olivia to spy on Borden to get all his secrets. Then comes the only bad part about Fred which was removing the cushion underneath the trap door and messing with Angiers double. What does Angier do next? He clones himself, kills his clone, buries Fallon alive and framing Borden. While Fred wasn't exactly the epitome of goodness, it is clear who the bad guy aka the antagonist is. What the movie does is add another twist by making us feel sympathy for Angier and antipathy for Borden and thus shaping our perspective about both of them very early on. Besides that Fred deeply cares for his niece, deeply cares for his brother, is sorry about what happened to Julia. Who exactly does Angier care for aside from himself? The only real "bad" thing you can accuse both the brothers of is going as far as they did with the ultimate magic trick. And never telling Julia the truth.
@@PresidentScrooge honestly I think the one twin brother is almost as bad as Angiers. The one who loved his wife though... he caught a bad wrap.
@@KS-xk2so Can you make an argument how Fred (the twin that gets killed) is almost as bad as Angier? Because I don't see it.
@@PresidentScrooge He tied the reckless knot. Yes, the girl agreed to it, doesn't mean they aren't both idiots. Then, when she died, he didn't even have the decency to go to her funeral, sent his brother instead to face Angiers. He cheated on "their" wife. I don't care there is two of them, she thinks there is one for most of their life, and anything he does reflects that "one". Does it suck that he didn't love her? Sure, but either you make the sacrifice for your trick or you don't. Making it seem like Borden is stepping out on his wife, who his brother genuinely loves, is shitty. He's also just as obsessed with the rivalry as Angiers is. I'm sure its him who ruins Angiers caged bird trick, and its him who just HAD to go backstage, even after his brother said not to. You also pretty cavalierly write off one of the brothers crippling Angiers, again I'll assume its Fred based on him being the one pushing the rivalry.
This is my favorite Nolan movie. I used to think there was a major flaw: Angier is able to do a better version of the trick than Borden's with a double, but the problem is the double isn't loyal to him. This problem is fixed with the first duplication; two Angiers could do the trick perfectly with no fear of either revealing it or betraying the other. This was my thought for awhile. But that wouldn't work. Angier is paranoid about what the clone will do, which means the clone would be as well; he literally couldn't trust himself. Also, two Angiers would create a problem. Also also, this isn't about having a better act than Borden -- Angier is clearly the superior showman while being equal in talent, so he was already a better magician. This was about using Borden's trick to hurt Borden. Making one copy and then doing the trick the traditional way would have been out of character for Angier. A paranoid egomaniac out for revenge isn't going to share or be able to trust anyone, especially not another version of himself.
exactly. Angier could easily have triumphed on his own terms, but his obsession was with pulling Borden down rather than succeeding for himself.
He has come a long way in his directorial credentials, with blockbusters such as the batman series, Interstellar, Inception, and his recently released Oppenheimer movie. How would you have solved this inconsistency in the narrative?
@@DirectorsChoice There's nothing to solve. The point of my post was that my original objection (Angier should have made one copy and then used the twin method) was flawed and Angier doing things the way he does them is consistent with his character.
@@g.mitchell7110 Angier also doesn't like using a double earlier in the movie because he wants to be on stage for the applause. Doing it the twin way would mean one Angier doesn't get to be on stage so it wouldn't work. Like you say its consistent with his character.
@@dylshoney Exactly. Angiers and Clone Angiers could never share the Prestige and take turns like Borden did. Borden did it for his love of the craft. He wanted to make a perfect magic trick. The achievement was in having the trick, so it didn't matter who was the Prestige. Angiers never cared about the craft... he was only ever in it for "the looks on their faces" as he said, so the Prestige was all that mattered.
Fun Fact: The word "prestige" originally meant a trick, from the Latin "praestigium", meaning "illusion".
I think this is a rare case of improving on the original book. There's less of a moral dilemma with the duplicates but it also goes in an unusual modern day direction
100%. I think the book adds to it as far as the stuff with him fading away, and all that, but I definitely think the movie is significantly better.
There’s a book?
Thank you for covering this movie. It isn't the one most people think about with Nolan's works, but I still remember watching it in the theatre and correctly guessing the twist with my dad.
The twin twist or the cloning twist?
@@diegeticfridge9167 twin twist, they avoided showing fallon's face head on too much. I would never guess cloning but absolutely love it
@@thirdandhappy I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought the twin was obvious but was blown away by the cloning 😭🙏
One of Nolan's best. Brilliant Acting, Writing, Directing And Shocks throughout. Nolan And Bale deserved Oscar Nominations The Former For Directing And Writing.
In my opinion, Jackman was equally amazing to Bale. They were a perfect duo.
I actually think the line about "now knowing if I'm going to be the man in the box or in the prestige" makes very very perfect sense. It doesn't matter the Angier saying that line has always been the clone who never experienced drowning in the box. He still lived that fear every time he entered the machine knowing that HE'LL DEFINITELY BE BOTH. Because entering the machine, you know that there will soon be a version of you thinking "oh no, I'm the one in the box drowning" in fear and agony. Yes, that one only experienced thinking "oh, thank god, I'm the lucky one again" showing in the prestige for many times but still certainly knowing there's always been another him felt the opposite and died. Later Angiers in the box probably thought "Oh no, I've been the lucky one so many times, but not this time!" and Angier knew there will be one Angier thinking exactly that every time. So, entering the machine you'll ALWAYS have that fear. It would never go away.
The one who enters the machine is always the one who drowns, but then the clone that comes out still has the memory of entering the machine so you can see how he thinks of it like that.
Also think; they have no idea how the machine works. Is the clone made and transported? Or is the original transported and a clone left behind? So his question makes perfect sense.
Well said!
This is one of my favorite movies! It's actually what got me into non-horror thrillers
AHHHH I was JUST rewatching this movie (during a binge of Nolan films since I haven't seen Oppenheimer yet) and I was hoping CinemaWins would do this one! One of my favorite Nolan films with outstanding performances between Bale and Jackman. I also love how you can rewatch it even after knowing the twist and start noticing a ton of different things you missed on the initial watch
One of my favorite films, there’s just something about it
Agreed. I was obsessed with it immediately after my first viewing.
@thedarkknight9153 something tells me its not the only nolan film uv obsessed over 😂
Nolan's cinematic sorcery! Complex layers, misdirected perceptions, and twisted characters. Themes of obsession and duality, meticulous attention to clues, and a plot that intertwines like the steps of a waltz. It's not just a film, it's a masterfully crafted magic trick in seven acts.
This movie is inextricably linked in my head to The Illusionist. I think they both released around the same time, and that film deserves a Win video as well for doing the same thing this one did: Make magic real. Ironically, also a movie where I didn’t know how big an actor really was until much later.
Definitely agree. Norton was great and I really enjoyed the mystery. It really is a shame both the Illusionist and the Prestige had to compete that year.
I never finished The Illusionist. I got so bored.
@@Luckierexpert A shame, yes, but at the same time the competition helps keep them both in my mind, and I think that has its own merit.
@@davidripplinger8904 That’s a fair take. Sorry to hear it couldn’t keep you invested, but at least you figured that out so you’re not smacking into a wall forcing yourself to enjoy it.
@@Tom-mb2ji I'll add Tombstone and Wyatt Earp to your list of similar films released around the same time.
I think the real reason that Sarah says that Borden only loves her sometimes is because it's consistent with the character even before the ending twist. Without being two people, the Borden we know has this weird dichotomy of on-off obssession with his magic. When i originally watched this, I assumed that sometimes, borden is really so deep into his magic that his love for sarah takes a back seat, and even now I don't think the borden who isn't in love with sarah has to be the one who didn't originally fall for her.
His diary says one loved sarah and one loved the other.
I think the movie actually gives an answer as to which twin is which in each scene. You can see it a little in the acting, and which twin knows or feels which things. The twin the tied the knot is the one that wasn't in love, that didn't have his marriage to anchor him and so continued his obsession with the rivalry, leading to his own death.
This film put Nolan at a new calibre and on the map for a generation. The original scrips and filmmaking and acting. Purely brilliant.
This was one of the first films I grew to appreciate for how incredibly subtle cinema could be. There was one masterful shot of the character in the bed, with the shadow from the bedroom perfectly halving his face. I only noticed it on the 50th rewatch or something. New details every time that hint towards that amazing twist. I’m almost amazed you haven’t covered it before now, but I’m so glad you did!
This is my favorite Christopher Nolan movie. And it’s also at the top of my favorite movies overall. That last line and cut to black always makes me raise my arms and cheer because it just sweeps you up!
This movie has been one of my favorites ever since I first saw it! The twist caught me so off guard that I had to immediately rewatch the whole thing to understand.
This was my first Christian bale film. When I heard him speak I was like "WAIT HE'S BRITISH!?" because I knew he was batman at some point and immediately assumed he was American 😅 ...Now I see pictures of him all the time and I'm like "That is one British guy right there" 😂
One of my favorite films. Nolan is a genius. Thanks CinemaWins😊
I saw this and The Illusionist around the same time as an early teen, and I was either too distracted or too dumb to really grasp either one. After this, I think it's time to finally watch them again and give them appreciation they deserve. Also, when Christian Bales character is hung, since his last words classic "magic words" and he'd done the trick earlier of chaining the guard to the table, I was expecting/hoping that when the trapdoor dropped he'd disappear from the noose or something.
The Prestige is such an underrated movie. Glad that you're covering this. More people really need to see this Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman are such amazing actors
I loved The Prestige! Incredible story telling and those twists were phenominal.
in the last scene where the twins are together, the one about to be hanged is walked back to his cell and says "i'm sorry about sarah" which leads us to believe that the twin who lived was the one who actually did care for sarah and was the girl's father, making it a (slightly?) happier ending.
I literally just got done rewatching the lotr wins, and I would love to see the wins for the Hobbit trilogy. I know a lot of people dislike them and they definitely have their flaws, but An Unexpected journey was my first introduction into Middle earth and it is one of my favorite movies to date.
I need to watch one of the fan edits sometime. I hated the Hobbit movies, but I was later convinced that there was plenty of amazing content in there that someone could piece together a shortened, cohesive, and book-friendly version.
I think my favourite scene in the whole movie is when "Alfred" is arguing with Sarah and their daughter watches, Borden comes in and wordless carries off the daughter. It's seemingly out of character for a guy who thus far has been a stoic quiet presence in the background, almost too obvious, but the film doesn't give you chance to pull the thread because this is happens right between the much bigger and seemingly more important moments of the argument and Sarah's subsequent suicide.
This is one of the few films that I always watch twice in a row every time I put it on: the first time to just enjoy it, the second time to really pay attention to all the hints/ clues.
Oh boy, you should also watch Primer.
I think I first watched this leading up to the release of Dunkirk. I guessed the twist concerning Christian Bale correctly the first time I watched, but it only made the movie better for me because it rewards you for paying close attention as it asks that question.
I saw this film for the first time yesterday and it was an absolute masterpiece, great timing on this video!
I haven't seen Oppenheimer yet but as of now this still stands as my favorite Nolan movie. So damn good and honestly, kind of underappreciated.
One of the few movies that I did not see the twist coming on my first watch through. But after watching it again the twist is given away multiple times throughout the movie.
One thing you didn't touch on I noticed is there's also a argument to be made that there's a bit of a classism struggle going on between the 2 main characters. Borden comes across as a working class guy who's worked hard and sacrificed alot. Angier comes across as Someone who's got money who didn't work for any of his tricks but mostly stole or imitated the best ones he found. I think this is one of the reasons I side with Borden for who I sympathize with. You're very right about them both being flawed and awful in their own ways but when you realize Angier is a rich privileged thief on top of his other distasteful character traits it swings alot of sympathy towards Borden character inspite of his flaws. Great video breakdown all the same.
My personal favorite Nolan film. It's such a fantastic thriller/mystery and the twist the first time around hit teenage me like a brick. I find more and more to love about it with every rewatch. Also darn it David Bowie should've done more acting roles - he's genuinely great as Tesla, small as the part is he lends an almost mystical aura to the guy.
This is one of the movies I quote on a basis. Honestly a heavily underrated Nolan movie that is about magicians and used with mostly practical effects.
One of my favorite Easter eggs. During the bullet catch scene he gets his finger shot on the list of magicians behind him is Harry Dresden. A wizard from the book series the dresden files.
A few suggestions for after the Ted Lasso video: 1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) 2. Jurassic Park III (2001) 3. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1981) 5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 6. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Also, thank you so much for making these videos, CinemaWins!
Temple of doom is so underrated. Most fun movie of the franchise.
This is one of my favorite movies, and yes it fooled me hard the first time around.
Following is also a very good movie. Love the complete give away at the start of the movie when the bird "survives" but the trick depends upon having backup birds available.
Before I saw this video, I always thought Tesla had built Borden the cloning machine and he'd only used it once. I now really like the idea that Tesla literally was asked to rebuild a thing that he never made before that doesn't work by the laws of physics, and he's like "Yeah I can do that. Pay me".
This is (well until the release of Oppenheimer maybe) my favourite Nolan film outside the Dark Knight Trilogy, and has been since I saw it’s original cinematic release in 2006. The good guy in the film is the Borden who lived, the one who loved Sarah. I just love that look he gives Angier as Angier is trying to justify himself, that look at angry disgust towards the man who destroyed his brother and wife, and the satisfaction of his revenge. Btw the end credit song isn’t Radiohead, but it’s a song Analyse from Thom Yorker’s solo album
seeing this in my recommended just now made a bad day SO much better. my favorite channel thoughtfully and articulately talking about my favorite movies! NEVER STOP!!
This movie is perfectly balanced on so many levels, and you covered it very well.
One of Nolan's best pieces, I just wish I could see this movie for the first time again
Even after seeing Oppenheimer I think this is still my favorite Nolan film. While Oppenheimer is great in its own right, the character study on two competitor’s obsessions is so enthralling. All the twists and the way Nolan never cheated the twists were so smart. The man has proved he truly never misses but goddamn there is just something about this one.
so glad to see you finally cover this- it's been one of my all time favorites ever since I first watched it. I even did a full written analysis of it for my senior english project back in high school!
One of my all time favorite movies, glad to see you covering it
This was the movie that got me hooked with Nolan's film. Watching this was a mind blowing experience. Honestly, I forgot about this movie until this got uploaded.
The Prestige is not only my favorite Nolan movie, it is easily within my Top 10 favorite movies ever. Every part of it is beautifully done. Does what it sets out to do, and does it perfectly. Tight enough to bounce marbles off, but always engaging. You're right, it really does get better every time you watch it... which is a feat for this kind of movie. Normally, thrillers of this sort lose their luster the moment you know how the trick was done.
One of my most favourite movies ever, my theatre gasped when David Bowie walked in.
Other films have taken the spot of being my favorite temporarily, but The Prestige is always the one I go back to being my true favorite.
I think The Prestige might just be one of the best films ever made. While Nolan has evolved with his visuals, this film has his best writing in it for me. The way the story gives you multiple reveals without it feeling overwhelming is masterful and it’s a film I’ll always think about. It’s cool to see that you are changing things up when it comes to content. I wonder what the ted lasso vid is and whether it will get me into the show. I’d love an EGA Sonic 2. Love to hear your thoughts on it.
I was first shown this movie in high school in a creative writing class and it blew my freaking mind! Watching it in a room where half the people knew the twist and have the people didn’t was the best cause I could tell something important was coming cause the people who knew would turn to watch the unknowing faces but even with me knowing something important was shown I still had no freaking idea what the ending was going to be!
My former favorite Nolan movie, which was surpassed by Oppenheimer
I remember watching this film in 2014 for what at the time I called "Request October" (reviews for films as they were asked by my friends in real life and Facebook). Truly a great film, an all-star [male reproductive organ] measuring contest that leaves death, destruction and dismay in its way. Lately I've been thinking that mister Nolan leaves a few things to be desired in the emotional department, but maybe that's a me thing -and when it works it *oh so much* works. In any case, keep up the great work, take care, stay safe, and enjoy the summer with your family mister Lee!
I watched this in film class my senior year having never seen it before, and has been one of my favorites ever since
4:03 there's literally no way that could be the same twin in the apartment that just walked away from it. it could only be the other twin; since the point of borden/fallon is that their trick is extremely prosaic, setting up either of them as possessing superhuman speed when their act is that they are twins seems deliberately obfuscatory. but she wants to be fooled, so she doesn't question how one man could be in two places at once
I remember requesting this a while ago, so happy to you covered this movie!
I wish more people knew about this movie and how much of an underrated gem it is from Nolan, and overall.
‘There isn’t one I’d turn off if it came on’ is such a simple way of saying ‘this is a good movie’ which I’ve never really been able to convey.
Man, Bowie killed it as Tesla
So i was fortunate enough to watch this movie only 2 years ago completely spoiler free and can safely say it still holds up as i didn’t see the twists coming until the very end and it had me hooked on every scene. The acting alone is just engrossing and you really want to see how far both (all 3) men will go to 1 up each other.
I like to think Angier, the original survived all along. That the process transports him and reconstructs the transported energy as it's own person, leaving a clone. I also like to think there's still an Angier out there, he did the trick so many times, I'm sure he made a backup in case he's ever killed.
This analysis got me to go watch the movie again after having not seen it in years, and I'm glad it did, because holy crap. I think somehow in my head, all the Wolverines and Batmans had twisted my brain into forgetting how much Jackman and Bale can just. Solidly *act.* And this movie is a solid premise, shaped by a clever director, and *made* on the perfomances. Thank you, CinemaWins, for reminding me of this.
I saw this one with my roommates a couple of months ago and was blown away! It was so crazy we had to watch it again too!
I remember watching this in class during high school. After the first two acts, our teacher had us theorize how he was able to do the trick. Safe to say, nobody was able to get it right
I love how the twist that shock both MCs are #1 Surprise Borden, I actually have 2 identities this whole time ! #2 Surprise Angier, we were sharing 1 identity this whole time !
I guessed both twists pretty much about halfway through the film, but it's still an amazing film. I love the style and artistic presence this film has. It's hard to put into words I just love this film
I finally watched this Thursday and then searched for this video. I was letdown that there wasn’t one and not more than 2 days later it arrives. Great timing. Waited too long to watch it thought, outstanding film.
One of my all time favorite movies! The book is great too!
One of my favourite films, and definitely one of your best videos - loved the analysis!
Love this film so much. Great to see it reviewed
11:49 i used to always read the last page first as well. Long before I ever saw this movie. I started doing it as a kid when I read my first "chapter book".
I’ve never commented on one of your videos but oh my god this warrants one. Thanks for giving this incredible film more attention!
2 lead magicians who are terrible people that ooze charisma is a real fun combination. I think this is still my favourite standalone Nolan movie, especially since it came before he chose to deafen people with his audio mixing.
Such a great movie! Whenever someone asks me what my favorite movie is, Venom, The Prestige and I Am Number Four are first things to pop in my head but I feel like none of them were massively popular and have varying levels of quality😅
Still one of my favorite films ever. This made me a Huge fan of Mr. Christopher Nolan. Was first in line for Oppenheimer in my cities theater
Hugh's speech at the end is my favorite dying words ever spoken in cinema
One of my favorite movies, I love rewatching it every so often.
And absolutely my favorite media incarnation of Tesla.
It strikes me that Angier knows why they do what they do, "It's their faces", but he can't quite believe it 100% with the rivalry going on. The twin that survives was the one who really does understand that, it's just he choose his daughters "face" as the one important one. The twin who dies is the one who can't leave it alone. Angier is both sides of Borden/Fallon personality in one.
15:56 - I always thought the dead Angier clone was trying to say “No, wait, I’m the… [Prestige!!!]” - telling the living Angier clone how to do the trick (and of course expressing his desire to be the prestige…)
I have been waiting for you to do this movie. I love it. such a great video and movie.
I love this movie so much, thanks for doing this one. Love your content.
Great video. I ADORE this film. And it does indeed get better with every re-watch.
This is my favorite movie to this day, seen it so many times.
I was really young when I saw The Prestige and I saw it AFTER I’d watched The Illusionist. I didn’t appreciate it, nor did I truly understand it. This made me rewatch both 17 years later. It’s funny to see how much I missed the first time.
This movie keeps coming up in my mind in many different conversations and I hate that I can never talk about it out of fear of spoiling it... I guess I'll just have to manage to get everyone to watch it :D
It's like The Usual Suspects!!
Thank you for featuring my favourite movie of all time, really blows me away each time i see it
Whoa, I always found new details on these review videos. When Angier mentioned Tesla had built one machine for Borden, I always thought "wait, so Fallon's a clone?". But no, it was the Tesla coil machine (seen at 10:30) just for visuals; it wasn't the cloning machine.
I've never been happier to see a video recommendation, this has been my favourite film for years and I've waited for you to make a video on this one :D
I remember thinking "that was an interesting twist..." but h.s. did I miss a lot of what was really going on. This was a far deeper movie than I thought it was.
This is a great movie, so glad you covered it!! I made my brother watch it and he completely agreed!!😊
Cinemawins really knows what I wanted, I just revisit this movie the other day, love it more and more.
Oh my god, I'm just realizing this now, but Angier could've had everything Borden did. He could've had his trick!! If he'd just kept one clone alive, he would've effectively given himself a twin, and he could've done the same performance without having to kill himself every night. The fact that this is something that never occurs to Angier (and by extension it never occurs to him until it's too late that Borden was a twin) is an interesting part of the contrast between the three magicians.
He would not be able to do that because he would be afraid the clone would betray him. He trusts no one and least of all himself.
@@Sanne_Mathiasen Yeah, that's the point.