The film I decided to analyze is "The Prestige." It was released in 2006, directed by Christopher Nolan, and starred Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. It falls into the genres of drama and mystery as its plot follows the lives of friends-turned-enemies magicians in the late 19th century.
While I do enjoy watching movies, it's just not something I do often. There are numerous classic films I've never seen: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, my own mother was appalled when I said I'd never seen Pretty Woman and made me watch it over winter break, and my friend Brendan has promised to cut me out of his life if I don't finish watching the second half of Jurassic Park with him some time before graduation. Since there are only a handful of movies I've seen more than once, my options for this assignment were a bit limited.
I think that the reason I find The Prestige so compelling is because it does a number of things well. The lighting throughout the film is extremely affective. The movie is meant to keep you guessing up until the end and the dark shadows and dim lighting reinforce the idea that not everything is clearly laid out within the film.
The trailer of the film gives a good sense of all the intrigue the film has to offer. It is one those movies that makes more and more sense each time you watch it. There are twists in the plot that only become clear at the end of the film but if you go back and watch earlier parts you realize there are subtle hints and suggestions. One thing I noticed in the trailer is that most of the scenes where main characters are discussing "magic" are very dimly lit and often only one side of a character's face is clearly visible.
Another thing I love about The Prestige is the way audio is played over scenes to connect them and bring everything full circle. This clip from the end echos lines from the very beginning of the film but can be heard with a new understanding after seeing how the film ends. I also think it is neat how a magician's trick is broken down into three parts when many times that is how stories and films are broken down as well. The pledge, the turn, and the prestige of tricks can be compared to the rising action, climax, and falling action of stories. This clip from the end of the film is a great example of well placed audio:
The Prestige is a drama and a mystery. There are somber events within the film along with relationship twists and turns that add dramatic flare. Certain elements are not explained until the very end and this keeps the mystery alive and the viewer guessing.
One of the tropes used by the film is the "Twin Switch Trope." It is the use of this trope that makes the plot of The Prestige possible. This is all explained at the end of the film so if you just read my blog post, oops – SPOILER ALERT!
