Date: October 31st, 2026 9:46 AM Author: Manually Patching Allaire
Great movie but hardly a 10/10; it's one of the most tightly controlled Nolan movies which makes sense given the themes and plot, but it means that there isn't a lot to reward rewatches.
This isn't a "problem" with the movie, but it's why it's not a masterpiece.
Date: October 31st, 2026 9:51 AM Author: Manually Patching Allaire
I agree that rewatchability shouldn't factor into scoring a movie per se but for me the clear reason why it's not a 10/10 despite flawlessly executing on its game plan is the fact that there's not a lot that makes me want to revisit it. It's a good story with good performances and great production design, and it's entertaining throughout, but it isn't transcendent.
Date: October 31st, 2026 10:20 AM Author: Historical American
What the fuck are you talking about? Are you insane? Of course it's a 10/10 masterpiece. Are you smoking crack? What is this reductio ad absurdum logic here bud. OK you didn't like the movie. Whatever. But why do you have to apply some kind of fanciful logic to your own reasoning. Lack of rewatchability, the film doesn't have a concrete flaw that you think would make it excellent? Yes the writing is tight. For Nolan this is actually a benefit. Inception is totally overrated. It's just a CGI shitfest action film with some psychological mumbo jumbo but you think THAT piece of shit film is a masterpiece? Or Interstellar which is deeply flawed?
No, The Prestige sucks because it has STORY and CHARACTERS and the whole thing makes sense and you can explain it in 5 seconds or less. WAKE UP SHEEPLE.
I don't even think you 'got' the whole premise of the film which is why you're coming across as MAF and like some kind of pretentious film critic who has bought too deeply into the Nolan hype and you think movies are deeper because they're more confusing of something. Yes, The Prestige is based on a novel and despite its twists and turns and sci fi elements it doesn't involve a Hans Zimmer score or some mindbending gimmick. But that's all to its credit and WHY it's the best Nolan film because he actually held back from his retarded tenancies to cock everything up and he told a straight ahead narrative.
But you obviously can't RELATE to the characters and the story which is why you think it's boring because you're not a TRUE ARTIST and you will never understand it!
Date: October 31st, 2026 10:13 AM Author: Taylor Swift is not a hobby she is a lifestyle (πΊπΈ π΅π±)
I also disagree with rewatchability being a component of overall quality. Hocus Pocus is extremely rewatchable, but it is not a great movie by any metric.
Date: October 31st, 2026 2:36 PM Author: Fracture in the Maidenhead (gunneratttt)
CR. It's not even about rewatchability, it just lacks much poignantcy, subtext, etc. It's almost like an MCU movie. Everything the movie wants you to notice is underscored to make sure no one misses it.
I'm not shitting on it, it's a great flick and certainly nowhere near an actual MCU film in slopalacity. But yeah, not a masterpiece.
Date: October 31st, 2026 10:42 AM Author: Historical American
Her character works because she's the other woman. The other chick has a better performance and is more central to the story. Bale does not overact he's perfect.
Date: October 31st, 2026 10:48 AM Author: SkaddenArse
I just can’t get into bale. He’s always giving so much effort. Like acting isn’t easy for him. He reminds me of a career backup qb, good for a few plays but ultimately not nearly as good as a starter.
Date: October 31st, 2026 10:55 AM Author: Historical American
I'm not really familiar with his oeuvre but he's amazing in The Prestige. He's so believable and I think he owns the character.
Are you watching closely?
The red ball gimmick is 180. He's the only character who lays out and explains what the movie is actually about which is the struggle you have to face to become a successful artist, what you're willing to sacrifice and potentially lose to get there, the balance you have to strike between doing an act that you find interesting and inspiring and one that inspires the audience, the relationship artists have with the audience, and the role of self promotion and showmanship and advertising and the impact production and glossiness have on art and its popularity.
Date: October 31st, 2026 3:17 PM Author: Historical American
There's two types of people in this world. People who appreciate Aristotlian narratives (characters, story, i.e. human dramas that are essentially plays like Sophocles), and Chinese bug people who prefer explosions. And unfortunately we live in a world where most people prefer explosions.
Date: October 31st, 2026 2:33 PM Author: the wife guy cinematic universe
Btw I was a big NolanMo as a kid but as time passed i realized he is so broad & commercial and lacks any subtlety and grace and even the cinematography is not great, I watched this Taiwan movie YI Yi (2000) that's like 10000x more beautiful visually (and emotionally) than all of his films combined
Like the odyssey was a fine popcorn flick but the fact that people say it might win best picture is insane. And I'm not a hater.
Date: October 31st, 2026 2:54 PM Author: Fracture in the Maidenhead (gunneratttt)
The problem is that arthouse flicks will never generate revenue sufficient to produce something like The Odyssey. Nolan does a great job attracting big audiences for relatively deep movies.
It will probably win Best Picture. That doesn't mean it was the best though.
Date: October 31st, 2026 3:04 PM Author: the wife guy cinematic universe
He gets so close with doing practical effects, shooting on 70mm, but then casts wooden actors cause I think he is slightly autistic and can't really appreciate human emotions, especially sentimentality.
Date: October 31st, 2026 3:13 PM Author: Historical American
Nolan is the very definition of Art Pop. So mainstream he can outsell a Marvel movie, so critically acclaimed he can win an Oscar. He occupies that dead central space.
To wit the reason why The Prestige is so good is it's about character and stories and there's no shaky cam Michael Bay action scenes. Being a maximalist I'm sure the relative lack of commercial success of The Prestige is what influenced him to go back to making mainstream bangers that sell well in China.
The Prestige if anything is the Pinkerton of the Nolan canon before a return to form with the likes of Inception/the Green Album.
Date: October 31st, 2026 2:55 PM Author: Juden Peterstein
It's a very good movie but the very underrated reason why it's so good is because it's all attractive White people and it takes place in a beautiful European setting with a splash of America too