The Prestige: A sci-fi thriller period piece disguised through magic, Nolan's retrospective manifestation of the thin line drawn between magic and science in the 19th-century, with an underlying exploration of toxic masculinity,is a masterclass of craft and writing (1/n)

Albeit using an (often jarring) non-linear narrative, the story is utterly convincing thanks to the measured and wildly charismatic performances from Bale and especially, Hugh Jackman, who's rivalries and chemistry carry the film

The film is filled with Nolan's typical exposition but also cleverly uses more imagery and visual storytelling to uncover it's suspense, but the supporting cast is left with no arc and serve as sub-plot surrogate for its leading men

A study of toxic masculinity and creative obsession between men of analogous interests, the archetypes are very well balanced between the characters. They are clearly of the same goals, yet differ in execution and presentation.

the line between magic and science is minimal in thickness, but 'the prestige' of both are on the opposite ends of the spectrum once the line is crossed.

Although the film warns its audience on how creative obsession and overwhelming ambition can steer into madness, the film itself is very ambitious and obsessed with creativity and it's ending is quite stirring for the mundane

there's a lot of clever 'Easter eggs' about its climax and reveal throughout the film's dialogue but it's so incredibly subtle and thus, almost unnoticeable on first viewing. You never see it coming, even if the answers are right there

Magic, ironically to it's name, is shown to be very scientific and nuanced to perform, However, the real science just seems like a miracle, and as you'd call it, "magic".

the film tells you to look closely across an indirect fourth wall kind of way, to convey that it's just a simple trick and nothing extraordinary, just like magic, but it all relies in "the prestige", aka the presentation of the third act in magic, in this case, the film's ending.

In short, it's The Prestige of everything that's alluring. No one cares about work in progress but how one reveals it through clever showmanship and performance. You don't have to be the better magician, you need to be the right showman.

Similar in reality, people care about how you present things back to them, not how you actually do it. Action is truly superficial in nature.

the film is also superficial, as it really doesn't have a true beginning or specific timeline, and all we end up caring for as an audience is how it unravels its answer in the third act.

Ambiguously, this is why Tenet is the film that should bring us back to theatres.