8 Good Films One Crippling Flaw Away From Being Awesome
3. The Prestige
The Flaw: Beards And Moustaches The Prestige has the dubious honour of being the only film to miss out on greatness thanks to a number of increasingly ridiculous beards and top-lip adornments. Fans of the film, of which I was one, will argue that this is a mere triviality and overall it is still a fine addition to the Nolan's unblemished oeuvre. I am afraid I can no longer agree. As clever and as intriguing as The Prestige is, the film hinges on the central vendetta between both Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale). This vendetta, in turn, hinges on their relentless pursuit of perfection in relation to the trick 'The Disappearing Man'. In a bid to outdo one another and exact ever-escalating acts of revenge, both Borden and Angier attend one another's shows in 'disguise'. Now when the word 'disguise' is used people immediately think of a false nose, glasses, maybe even a whole face mask. But not for these two expert undercover operatives and master magicians, who decide to conceal their identity behind the most ludicrous facial hair ever to adorn a face or the cinema screen. Needless to say both men are clearly recognisable and as the film rattles along the beards get increasingly more elaborate. Bales's ginger number is so wonderfully over the top you can't help but laugh, and at one point it appears that Hugh Jackman has stuck a mirkin to his face. So what? Well three very important parts of the plot centre round these two men unknowingly picking each other out of a crowd: when Angier shoots Borden's fingers off, when Borden moves the mattress to break Angier's leg, and the first time Borden does the disappearing man. All integral, all illustrating the depth of their rivalry, all totally unbelievable once you start actually playing attention to the 'disguises'. Still not convinced? Ok. Well, if the Borden twins can pull the wool over everyone's eyes by taking it in turns to dress as Fallon complete with face mask why couldn't they sort out a better disguise to attend Angier's shows than a beard that looks like it was made out of a brush?! A hairs breadth from awesome.
