Preview: ‘Prestige’ Is Movie Magic

by Jim Kiernan

What exactly is “The Prestige”?

On the one hand, it’s what you get when you cast two sometimes superheroes like Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as dueling magicians, add in some supporting players like Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie, throw in a dark plot of a longtime rivalry turned deadly, and then place “Batman Begins” director Christopher Nolan behind the camera to sort it all out with the intent of making, of course? movie magic.

Now on the other hand, as Michael Caine’s character Cutter explains in the film’s cryptic trailer, the title itself may hold a slightly more mysterious meaning. “Every great magic trick consists of three acts. The first act is called ‘The Pledge.’ The magician shows you something ordinary, but of course, it probably isn’t. The second act is called ‘The Turn.’ The magician makes his ordinary something do something extraordinary. Now if you’re looking for the secret, you won’t find it. That’s why there’s a third act called ‘The Prestige.’ This is the part with the twists and turns. Where lives hang in the balance and you see something shocking you’ve never seen before.”

“I loved doing that film so that’s one to look out for,” a beaming Hugh Jackman said regarding “The Prestige.” When Access Hollywood caught up with Hugh to discuss his recent projects, the interview soon enough turned to talk about the upcoming film named after that mysterious third act.
Based on the acclaimed 1995 novel by Christopher Priest, “The Prestige” tells the tale of two turn-of-the century magicians in London who compete over ultimate mastery of a similar illusion, and the mystery surrounding whether perhaps someone among them could possibly possess actual magic powers.

Not one to mess with a successful formula, director Christopher Nolan not only re-teamed with “Batman Begins” stars Bale and Caine for the film, he once again shared screenwriting duties with his “Memento” co-writer Jonathan Nolan, who also happens to be his brother.

“It’s got Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, and David Bowie. That was cool.” Though Jackman was visibly thrilled when talking about working with the music legend formerly known as Ziggy Stardust, perhaps it was Christian Bale’s mom who actually turned out be the bigger Bowie fan.

Despite what one may consider an impressive body of work in films like ?Empire of the Sun? with Steven Spielberg, “American Psycho,” “The Machinist” (where he lost 60 pounds for his role), working with director Terrence Malick on the epic “The New World,” and having his own cult following of devoted fans known as “Baleheads” since his days in the 1992 musical “Newsies,” apparently it wasn’t until he worked alongside Mr. Bowie that she finally gave her son the acting stamp of approval. As Hugh remembers the story, “Christian comes to work and goes, ‘I told my mom that David Bowie was in the film.’ And she goes, ‘Oh, well finally you are doing films that matter.’ Chris was like, ‘Well in Batman I was with Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. I’ve done some films.’ ‘No, no, no. This is David Bowie,’” laughs Jackman. “It was awesome. He is a great guy.”

But after the two co-stars sorted through all the initial required on set sleight-of-hand, how could they not bring attention to the fact that the actors who play comic book icons Wolverine and Batman would be sharing time together on the silver screen? “We did, we talk about it quite a bit. But if you get two actors together in a similar kind of role, we didn’t really talk about training techniques,” recalls Jackman.

What may unfortunately end up dispelling a super fan’s ultimate fantasy, conversations between Jackman and Bale didn’t always consist of comparing costumes, capes, or alter egos. But rather comically instead, issues that hit closer to the wallet. “Well, we did talk a little about training, I talked to him not so much about philosophies. We were kind of like, ?What are you getting in your contract,’ ” he laughs. “It’s a little bit of that.” Then roguishly leaning in and whispering, “‘How much you getting paid? Okay. Really this?’ Funny enough, we have the same agent Christian and I.” All in good fun, as superhero salaries are scrutinized behind the scenes.

Access Hollywood will be sitting down this weekend with the cast of “The Prestige” for more in-depth interviews about the film, which hits theaters October 20th.

Check back next week at Accesshollywood.com or tune in on the airwaves for more coverage.

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