Every Christopher Nolan Movie Ranked Worst To Best
2. The Prestige (2005)
If you were to come across someone who had never seen a Christopher Nolan film, you'd do well to start them on their journey with The Prestige, which remains the perfect encapsulation of everything Nolan's about.
Brought to life by two of his most vividly drawn characters -- duelling magicians played by Christian Bale and a never-better Hugh Jackman -- The Prestige is a thriller that rarely slows down, tackling the tales of two tormented men who ruin their lives attempting to destroy each other.
With his trademark plot twists and keen observations regarding the human capacity for greed and obsession, Nolan's understated masterstroke is ultimately one big magic trick, designed to distort the senses and twist expectation until the grisly truth finally reveals itself.
Not only is The Prestige the finest character study of Christopher Nolan's career, it's also one of the most stylistically daring, layering its story with so many red herrings it's a wonder it didn't become too much for him. He may be best remembered for his take on Batman, but The Prestige is Nolan at his best. Well, almost...