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* MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT *
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DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE
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* MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT *
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The most beautiful thing about Christopher Nolan's newest film The Prestige is the amazing economy of story. Every single scene has a meaning above and beyond the telling of the mainline. Each scene also gives clues to secret of the film, and the main theme.
From the very opening scene, Nolan gives us a few problems to puzzle over. Who is the protagonist? At times, you'd think Jackman, because he is the murder victim. At times, you'd think Bale, because his career rises and tanks, often due to reasons beyond his control.
Trying to figure out who the antagonist is just as difficult, because Jackman and Bale take turns acting as antagonist to the other.
Even THIS points to the secret. The concept that each of these two men take turns changing roles makes the significance of the Bale/Bale act of changing roles that much more poignant.
An astute child points out that for the disappearing bird trick to work, a brother has to be killed. This is foreboding at its greatest. All we see is an intro of Bale to his future wife. Subconsciously, Nolan is adding weight to Bale's final sacrifice.
Bale figures out a Chinese magician's trick relies entirely on the man living his entire life as though he's a cripple. He's actually incredible strong, but the only way his trick works is if he's physically unable to do it. Bale understands this, because of course, he's been doing the same thing for as long as we know him in this film.
Bale's wife understands implicitly, from the very beginning that there are two Bales. But she can't verbalize it. To her, it's two Bales in one body. Nolan gives us another clue when Bale tells Bale-as-Fallon to talk to her. We never see this conversation. But we see Bale talk to her.
Caine tells us the secret point blank. But it's so obvious, it can't be believed, and the story actually shows us how unbelieveable it is, by having Jackman pursue that approach, not realizing Bale is using the Chinaman's secret already: he's been setting this trick up all his life.
This was a wonderful film, with such an intricate, clue-ridden story, beautiful sets and costumes, fantastic casting, and the secret.
I'm still trying to decide what the main theme of this story was, because I'm not good at decyphering themes often. What are your thoughts on this?
* MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT *
**********************
DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE
**********************
* MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT *
**********************
The most beautiful thing about Christopher Nolan's newest film The Prestige is the amazing economy of story. Every single scene has a meaning above and beyond the telling of the mainline. Each scene also gives clues to secret of the film, and the main theme.
From the very opening scene, Nolan gives us a few problems to puzzle over. Who is the protagonist? At times, you'd think Jackman, because he is the murder victim. At times, you'd think Bale, because his career rises and tanks, often due to reasons beyond his control.
Trying to figure out who the antagonist is just as difficult, because Jackman and Bale take turns acting as antagonist to the other.
Even THIS points to the secret. The concept that each of these two men take turns changing roles makes the significance of the Bale/Bale act of changing roles that much more poignant.
An astute child points out that for the disappearing bird trick to work, a brother has to be killed. This is foreboding at its greatest. All we see is an intro of Bale to his future wife. Subconsciously, Nolan is adding weight to Bale's final sacrifice.
Bale figures out a Chinese magician's trick relies entirely on the man living his entire life as though he's a cripple. He's actually incredible strong, but the only way his trick works is if he's physically unable to do it. Bale understands this, because of course, he's been doing the same thing for as long as we know him in this film.
Bale's wife understands implicitly, from the very beginning that there are two Bales. But she can't verbalize it. To her, it's two Bales in one body. Nolan gives us another clue when Bale tells Bale-as-Fallon to talk to her. We never see this conversation. But we see Bale talk to her.
Caine tells us the secret point blank. But it's so obvious, it can't be believed, and the story actually shows us how unbelieveable it is, by having Jackman pursue that approach, not realizing Bale is using the Chinaman's secret already: he's been setting this trick up all his life.
This was a wonderful film, with such an intricate, clue-ridden story, beautiful sets and costumes, fantastic casting, and the secret.
I'm still trying to decide what the main theme of this story was, because I'm not good at decyphering themes often. What are your thoughts on this?