Crash Into Me

The Prestige

Finally went Friday night. Lacey was sick for the first hour, basically, so that hindered her enjoyment of it somewhat. But I feel compelled to give some kind of review of what I thought of it, since Josh Gibbs totally called me out. For future reference, his is a much more interesting website about a lot more interesting matters: thecedarroom.org

Anyway, I loved the movie. I thought that the twist at the end was certainly fair, and Lacey figured it out before I did. It wasn't that difficult. It think that in many ways we're jaded, having seen movie after movie where you're trying to figure out the twist at the end. You just expect it now. But the clues were there, and it really was masterfully done. It was a cage-match act-off (in the movie and between the actual actors) between Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. Yeah, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson were in it, but it really was about the two leads struttin' their stuff. If you had asked me before the movie who I'd put my money on, I woulda said Bale, hands down. But to me, Hugh Jackman stole the show. He was absolutely superb. I'd watch it again just to see him play his character's out of work, drunk, actor double. Great stuff. I'm not going to say a whole lot about the movie as a whole, because that would spoil it. It played out like a 3-act magic trick, and it was really, really good. Christopher Nolan is one of the best writer/directors in the world, and he can certainly craft a film. It looked great, sounded great, and its pacing, acting, really everything was top notch. I'm always amazed how the mere structure of a film can lend so much to how it comes across. I'm gonna stop now, because any more would start to give stuff away. I still thought that The Departed was superior, but not by much. These are far and away the two best movies I've seen all year.