Introduction
Inspired by Christopher Priest’s 1995 novel, Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan adapted the screenplay for their 2006 science fiction mystery psychological thriller film, The Prestige. Set in London at the end of the 19th century, it follows two competitive stage magicians, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden. They become fiercely competitive over the prospect of a flawless teleportation feat, leading to disastrous consequences. Due to these occurrences, the film has been extensively researched, with special care paid to its sound design, lighting, traditional three-act structure, and viewers’ strong emotional responses to its material.
Deep Analysis
After watching the movie, I realized that the three elements that stood out the most were the lighting, the classic narrative structure of the three acts, and the sound design. In this section, I will discuss these features to show how they contributed to the movie’s overall appeal to me. Additionally, it is due to these aspects that I watched this movie and am considering watching it again.
Sound
Although films are primarily visual, they frequently feature elaborate soundtracks. When characters in a movie exchange words with one another, it is called dialogue. Doors slamming, footsteps, and rainfall are all simulated by the film’s sound effects to create the impression that they are real and integral to the film’s narrative.
The history of music in the film is long and illustrious (Textbook, page 97). In the silent era of film, a pianist or organist would often perform in the background to help establish the mood. Some modern cinema scores seem to take on a life of their own.
The sound of The Prestige, which consists of music, sound effects, and spoken word, first caught my attention as I watched. Due to this course, I now understand that Christopher Nolan paid extra effort into casting actors with authentic British accents for the film’s extended dialogue scenes. At Borden’s trial, both the judge and Owen, her attorney, have posh accents. Angier’s business manager, Cutter, has a typical accent for someone from the lower classes in London (Morey 1). Michael Caine, who plays Cutter, is famous for speaking with his distinctive accent, and his character portrayal has served as a benchmark for other actors who must master the dialect.
Music in The Prestige sometimes acts as a sound effect that stood out to me in the film. One example is the music in the scene where Cutter has sent Angier and Borden to try to learn the secret of a Chinese magician. In the background, music utilizes a pentatonic scale and some plucked string sound, most likely produced on a synthesizer. This music made me understand that its work was to serve as the stage for the Chinese magician’s performance; thus, it does not necessarily have to be traditional Chinese music to accomplish its setting-mood function.
Low-Key Lighting
The style of lighting used in The Prestige is low-key, another aspect that caught my attention while I watched the movie. This course taught me the many advantages of adopting a low-key approach in this dramatic film. When compared, a lighting scheme with more subtlety appears darker (Textbook, page 54).
It is characterized by a heavy reliance on deep shadows and a stark contrast between the brightest and darkest portions of the picture, which are hidden by clouds. A dark film, The Prestige, tells a bleak tale. That does not imply that the entire film was dark and required dim illumination. There are lighter moments at the movie’s beginning, especially when showcasing the magic tricks.
Surprisingly, the transition from lighter to darker represented the two characters’ shared path from acquaintances to ferocious foes throughout the movie. This made me understand that low-key lighting is often used for intense, dramatic moments, particularly in horror movies and mystery thrillers. Due to this, low-key lighting is the best choice for a theatrical film dealing with dark topics, such as The Prestige (Morey 3).
Additionally, I understood that if the cinematographer had chosen a high-key look, it might have appeared artificial. High-key lighting is the norm in comedies, cheerful moments, institutional and office settings, and similar media (Textbook, page 55). Furthermore, this lighting style would have felt out of character with the mood Nolan was aiming for throughout the film, as there is not a lot of joy or humor in this movie. Since the background is so significant, viewers might not have been able to subtly experience the dark, foreboding aspect that permeates the entire film as much as they could have with subtle lighting.
Classic Three-Act Story Structure
The three-act structure standard in narrative writing, consisting of setup, confrontation, and resolution acts, is another aspect that struck me while watching the film. Cutter explains the film’s three main themes, which are the three components of a magic trick. It starts with the commitment, in which the magician displays an everyday item. The twist comes next, where the object accomplishes something incredible (Textbook, page 30). Due to this, I understood that the prestige lies in the dramatic conclusion, where the item is returned with a flourish and cheers.
Deep Reaction
My initial reaction to the magic tricks in the movie was astonishment, and this reaction has not changed yet. Additionally, when creating a story visually, cinematographers frequently and sometimes quite literally refer to the art of smoke and mirrors in the film. The mere process of making motion pictures is a form of cinematic trickery. Additionally, the director of photography serves as the magician who directs the audience’s eye to a specific part of the frame by striking a delicate balance between the scene’s color, light, and shadow. All these activities are done to reveal the main character as the lord of illusion.
The Prestige is a film about magicians who allude to the cinema. Casting Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as two rival stage magicians in Victorian-era London, the film centers on their tense rivalry, which spikes my admiration for the film. Bale portrays the stern and devoted artist Alfred Borden. Characteristically, Robert Angier, played by Jackman, is the more polished and charismatic showman. Their competition is initially friendly; Borden is the brains behind the show, while Angier is its face. When a disaster occurs on stage, their friendship deteriorates into an ugly fight, with each man seeking to bring the other down. Borden performs a spectacular new feat, and Angier is determined to determine how it is done.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the film Prestige employs elements such as sound, low-key lighting, and the traditional three-act story structure to create an illusion that appears to be reality. In addition, the film’s cinematographers use smoke and mirrors to ensure they appeal to their intended audience. In general, the movies employ various styles and aspects to ensure that every allusion appears realistic.
References
Morey, John. “Deep Analysis: The Prestige.” Flixist, 2020.