The Prestige

I think that, subconsciously, this is the movie I always wanted Christopher Nolan to make. Spectacle after all is the best word that defines Nolan as a director (for better or for worse). A movie about magicians just seems like the perfect Nolan movie. And this movie did it. From the very start, I was told to watch closely, and I did. Being surprised by a plot twist feels great, figuring out a great plot twist feels unreal. I figured out the two main twists of the movie long before the reveal, especially the final one, and you have no idea how happy I felt. Hell, this movie feels like one long elaborate magic trick, and what a magic trick that is. Now, there's two general interpretations of the movie. One that takes things at face value, while the other revealing the trick behind the magic. I personally lean towards the latter due to how much Nolan basically spells it out that there is more beneath the surface, but the beauty of the movie is that both interpretations can coexist and build upon the other. They're both great endings either way. Also, what a cast. I will say that Christian Bale is definitely the real star in here, but Hugh Jackman is no slouch either. This probably is the Nolan movie that makes or breaks for someone. It's the one that has the most twists and the most mindfuckery, but it just works. Usually I don't really put much emphasis into plot twists because it can feel like a cheap trick in an attempt to elevate an otherwise mediocre story, but when the story at hand is about magicians, illusions, and questioning what even is real... I dunno man, I think it just works. Like a magic trick, people are going to find it either overly sensational without much substance, but I think spectacle is what Nolan was going for here, and he brings it in spades. Also it's not true that there's no substance here, the way these two dumbasses destroy each other's lives on their revenge quest is just really compelling and fun. So yeah, I finally found a Nolan movie that I wholeheartedly love! I'm happy.