2006 was basically the age of Blaine, as I jokingly call it. It was a time where suddenly magicians were popular. Save for Blaine whose tricks now come off more like protests, we had a few popular magic shows, and two big movies revolving around magicians. One, “The Illusionist,” an exceptional murder mystery of great quality, and the other, “The Prestige,” a sleeker, more fast paced approach, this time with warring magicians. Christopher Nolan is a wonderful director, and everyone knows that now. Not only is the reunion of Bale, Nolan, and Caine a main drawing point, but the exciting story of two men attempting to unveil magic and battle for respect is also entertaining. Having Christian Bale in a film is always a plus, so, “The Prestige” didn’t require much of a pitch for this here fella, but Nolan’s tight direction make this a superb companion piece to “The Illusionist.” Which ever one you prefer over the other, there’s no denying that there haven’t been duel magician films in a long time, and Nolan doesn’t short change us.

Both stories manage to hold up their end of the promise “The Prestige” holds, and explores both men’s attempts to outdo the other, while never heeding Tesla’s warning of obsession being man’s downfall. “The Prestige” is a term referring to the big delivery of an illusion, the moment of pay off, and both men seek the prestige to the ultimate illusions. Angier especially becomes obsessed with Borden, after he creates an illusion named “The Transported Man,” and he inserts a spy in form of his assistant Olivia (Johanssen) who only perpetuates their rivalry. “The Prestige” is more the destruction of two egomaniacs whose rivalry stems from an accidental death during an illusion involving Angier’s wife (Piper Perabo), and instead of the film actually becoming a mystery, it’s instead a revenge film. And the revenge of one man on the other, and so on.

It's hard to believe a film that had everything going for it, would instantly destroy any sense of credibility with such a ridiculous climax. "The Prestige" finishes its final act with one of the more ludicrous and brutally obnoxious climaxes ever that revolves around Bowie's depiction of Tesla, and I couldn't have rolled my eyes more frequently if I tried. "The Prestige" seems to know where it's going for the first half, and then right in the finisher, it just cops out with an utterly nauseating finale that was hard to believe, hard to swallow, and simply hard to accept as a finisher. What the was point of all of the build up if you're only going to serve up an abrupt finale?

I was prepared to gush over Nolan's "The Prestige," but it's hard to when you're still trying to swallow a climax as ridiculous as the one presented. But in spite of it, Nolan's magician revenge film is entertaining with great performances, and a hell of a cast. If only the pay off was more believable.

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