Prestige

What is not to like? The cast of Batman Begins, Magic, David Bowie, are you kidding me, this movie is going to rock! POOF? What happen? The acting was great, the subject matter was great, even the story wasn't bad, two competing magicians. The real trick is how they made this movie so predictable and boring.

First the GOOD:
The acting was great. The subject matter was great. I never felt like turning it off, so I was engaged. I loved the rivalry and how the stakes kept building. I love the tricks. I also loved the settings. Last David freakin' Bowie! I love Bowie. I don't think he does enough movies. That was a great surprise. He didn't even play that big of a role. Somehow he is always engaging.

Second the BAD:
No misdirection. I know this sounds funny coming from a movie about magic, but honestly I saw the whole thing coming. The apifiny came when the hats were found. I kind of suspected anyway. I don't want to ruin it. I put the whole thing together then. The only secret was the Bale's tutor/trick master. Which was given away because they never showed his face. I knew it was... ...well I don't want to spoil it. The ending should be shocking. It probably could have, had there been more misdirection in other areas. Honestly, the hat thing, if you left that out, I probably would never have seen it coming. Well maybe, part of the problem is that it was a movie about magic and I am looking for the misdirection. The problem lies in the way the story was told, not the story, not the direction, not the acting, just the procession of events.

Comments:
I don't want to say that it was a bad movie. I just felt like it was missing something.

Recommendation.
Rental. I think it is entertaining to a point. Don't expect any magic from this movie. Maybe even wait for HBO. It is an entertaining yarn, just not worth buying.