movie minute

Hocus Pocus: Two masculine and macho men spend two hours trying to upstage and outwit each other with their testosterone, um, magic. By the way, why are there no women magicians? Anyway, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (hottie Christian Bale) play the magicians with something to prove; that something would be who can be the best performer in late 19th century London and who can wow the audiences the most. The film The Prestige starts with a field of top hats and from there the rollercoaster begins. After Angier experiences a tragic loss, he vows revenge on Borden and even goes so far as to steal his secrets. It's a pissing contest but with magic. Borden is the better magician in but Angier is the better showman and goes to extreme lengths to get the secrets to Borden's tricks; he even dispatches his assistant to spy on Borden. As the two continue to top each other, the ones that suffer are the ones around them. The director, Christopher Nolan, director of the wonderful movie Memento, has a clever and twisty thriller here. Unfortunately, he is either losing his touch or I've seen too many twisty thrillers. I guessed all of the twists miles before they were revealed, even the final not-quite-so-jaw-dropping (in my case anyway) one. Bale and Jackman give solid performances and Scarlett Johansson (yes, her again) gives a performance that, really, anyone could have done; male or female. And why does she have to be in everything? Jackman and Johansson better be careful or people will start thinking they are having an affair. They also starred in the movie Scoop together. And Bale and Michael Caine better be careful or people will start talking about them. They both starred in Batman Begins and here Caine plays an aging illusionist. The movie feels like an original, however, it's taken from Christopher Priest's novel. If you like magic and bends in the road, check out this movie and make sure you are watching closely.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 3

paul