10 Devious Ways Movies Tried To Trick You

6. Are You Actually Watching Closely? - The Prestige

Zodiac Arthur Leigh Allen
Warner Bros.

The Prestige undoubtedly ranks near the top of Christopher Nolan's best work to date on the silver screen.

This may sound like a big statement to make due to the sheer amount of commercially and critically acclaimed films that the English director has produced so far in his now Academy Award-crowned career but the reality is, there just aren't many films as clever as his 2006 period drama and thriller.

The films's final act features the incredible revelation and inevitable final twist from Bale's Borden revealing to Jackman's Angier that he had an identical twin, as the pair took it in turns between being Alfred and his mysterious sidekick, Fallon. 

The twist is absolutely genius, but what's even more genius is how Nolan teases this throughout the film. 

There are lines uttered that hint toward this confession including Borden saying at the start of the film "We were two young magicians at the start of our careers, we never meant to hurt anyone" Nolan expects the audience to believe Bale's character is referring to himself and Jackman's. 

However, it is more than likely that he is talking about himself and his twin brother. 

Other possible clues come in the form of Borden's differing behaviour and moods toward Rebecca Hall's Sarah and Scarlett Johansson's Olivia as well as Michael Caine's Cutter catching on to the fact of how Borden must use a double to achieve his 'Transporting Man' act. 

But, keep your eye on Fallon. Apart from the frame featured above, Nolan keeps the character out of shot or focus for large portions of the film... I wonder why? 

 
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Contributor
Contributor

Avid Chelsea, England cricket and Scotland rugby supporter and sufferer. Proud northerner who for some reason sounds southern. Enjoy matching a face to a name, and will watch absolutely anything Daniel Craig is in. Greatest achievement? Getting winked at by James McAvoy.