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• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Mystery/Drama/Thriller
• Year: 2006

Nolan made me a fan from the very beginning, when I watched Memento and quieckly made it one of my favorite all time films. That movie sparked me to see Following, his first feature film, shot independently and in black and white which I would also recommend. Insomnia, released a few years later was alright, but I began to fear that Nolan was about to fall into the Hollywood trap. It was Batman Begins that reassured me he would not and this film only further advances that reassurance.

Set at the turn of the century, two magicians, played brilliantly by Christopher Baele and Hugh Jackman, once partners, find themselves competing against each other. Obsessed with outdoing the tricks of the other, the two eventually begin to play a set of elaborate pranks that soon begin to escalate in danger. Using deceit and trickery, the two strive to achieve the greater name, sparked by a hatred that was created in the past when one of their shows went terribly wrong.

Told out of sequence, this movie can be slightly frustrating for those movie watchers that are more comfortable with sequential stories. However, close attention will unfold a carefully crafted puzzle that delivers a good ending. With a solid cast, strong acting, directing, cinematography and set design, not to mention writing, this movie has all the elements to make a successful movie. I won’t say there are not any dropped balls, but they are minor enough that they can be overlooked. I highly recommend this one.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Notes: Some language and disturbing imagery
Quote: Rupert Angier: It was the greatest magic trick I’ve ever seen
Cutter: It’s not a trick. It’s real