10 Great Movie Performances (That Got Better The Second Time You Watched)

1. Christian Bale - The Prestige

Christian Bale's acting ability is such that you shouldn't be surprised that he's on this list twice. Nor that it's for two entirely different performances. Well, three, really.

The Prestige is one of his biggest achievements in performance, despite the fact that the role is nowhere near as flashy or as provocative as some of his others. And it becomes even better the second time you watch it because of the twist that reveals you've actually been watching Bale twice without realising it.

And the genius of this duel performance is that there are very subtle hints of when he's playing which Borden twin, particularly when he's being forced into performing the illusion himself. It's a masterful performance from an actor who revels in roles that offer him a contradiction like Batman and Bruce Wayne or Patrick Bateman's public front and his murderous heart. And watching it repeatedly only adds to the appreciation of it.

Which other performances belong on this list? Share your suggestions below in the comments thread.