Two films about 19th century magicians came out this fall. The first was The Illusionist and the second The Prestige, it's hard not to draw parallels.
The Prestige is written and directed by Christopher Nolan who also made Memento and Batman Begins. Christian Bale and Michael Caine must like working with him since they are both in this and Batman. Bale and Hugh Jackman are two rival magicians. After an accident caused by Bale takes the life of Jackman's wife, each tries constantly to sabotage the other.
There story is well told and you learn a fair bit about magic tricks. The acting is strong and believable but not showy. The plot unfolds as a magic does and there are good twists, not all that I saw coming. I saw it with a group of people and whether you like this or the The Illusionist better seems to depend on if the twists surprised you. The Illusionist was obvious to me and aside from Giamatti I thought the characters (not the actors) were stiff. I thought The Prestige was much more fun.
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