Skip to main content

Spy vs. Spy

Prestige 2006
This is a very interesting Christopher Nolan movie set at the end of the 20th century with his trademark twisting story-telling which goes freely into the future and back as well as dabbles with a bit of history of the epic rivalry between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Alva Edison over AC current.
It tells a story of two rival illusionists from London who would go to great lengths to outdo the other. Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) starts together as apprentices not in best cordial of relationships. They become arch rivals when Angier's wife dies during an escapist's trick and  Borden is blamed for tying the wrong knot. 
David Bowie as Tesla
Actually the film is told in a non linear narration form and the viewer can make sense of the story as the story progresses. The story starts with Bolden in jail accused of killing Angier and is to be hung. 
Both remain bitter rivals. When Borden  perform an impossible trick where he appears through another door almost as instantaneous as he enters one 20 feet away, Angier is perplexed. He sends his girlfriend/assistant Olivia (Scarlett Johansen) to spy on his foe. 
Angier is told to visit Nicola Tesla (David Bowie) in Colorado Springs to get his inspiration. The disgruntled scientist, whom has his own issues with Thomas Alva Edison (Just like Borden and Angier), runs some research for him. The work is hijacked by Edison's men but he manages to discover a duplicating machine!
Angier and his faithful mastermind (Michael Caine) perform their new trick to a roaring audience. 
Be prepared for a surprise ending!
It is a philosophical comparison between masters of illusion and masters of science to illustrate what lengths they would go to seek fame and fortunes - Angier and Borden vs. Tesla and Edison!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gory historic details or gore fest?

Razakar:  The Silent Genocide Of Hyderabad  (Telegu, 2024) Director:  Yata Satyanarayana In her last major speech before her disposition, Sheikh Hasina accused those who opposed her rule in Bangladesh of being Razakars. The opposition took offence to this term and soon widespread mob throughout the land. Of course, it is not that that single incident brought down an elected government but a culmination of joblessness and unjust reservations for a select population group. In the Bengali psyche, Razakar is a pejorative term meaning traitor or Judas. It was first used during the 1971 Pakistan Civil War. The paramilitary group who were against the then-East Pakistani leader, Majibur Rehman, were pro-West Pakistan. After establishing independence in Bangladesh, Razakars were disbanded, and many ran off to Pakistan. Around the time of Indian independence, turmoil brewed in the princely state of Hyderabad, which had been a province deputed by the Mughals from 1794. The rule of N...
Post a Comment
Read more

The products of a romantic star of the yesteryear!

Now you see all the children of Gemini Ganesan (of four wives, at least) posing gleefully for the camera after coming from different corners of the world to see the ailing father on his deathbed. They seem to found peace with the contributor of their half of their 46 chromosomes. Sure, growing up must have been hell seeing their respective mothers shedding tears, indulgence in unhealthy activities with one of them falling prey to the curse of the black dog, hating the sight of each step sibling, their respective heartaches all because of the evil done by one man who could not put his raging testesterones under check! Perhaps,the flashing lights and his dizzying heights that his career took clouded his judgement. After all, he was only human... Gems of Gemini Ganesan L-R: Dr Revathi Swaminathan, Narayani Ganesan, Dr Kamala Selvaraj, Rekha, Vijaya Chamundeswari   and Dr Jaya Shreedhar.  ( Abs:  Radha Usman Syed, Sathish Kumaar Ganesan) Seeing six of Ge...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chicken's Invite? (Ajak-ajak ayam)

In the Malay lingo, the phrase 'ajak-ajak ayam' refers to an insincere invitation. Of course, many of us invite for courtesy's sake, but then the invitee may think that the invitation is for real! How does anyone know? Inviters and invitees must be smart enough to take the cue that one party may have gatecrashed with ulterior motives, or the other may not want him to join in the first place! Easily twenty years ago, my family was invited to a toddler's birthday party. As my children were toddlers, too, we were requested to come early so that my kids could run around and play in their big compound. And that the host said she would arrange a series of games for them to enjoy. So there we were in the early evening at a house that resembled very little of one immersed in joy and celebration. Instead, we were greeted by a house devoid of activities and no guests. The host was still out shopping her last-minute list, and her helper was knee-deep in her preparations to ...
2 comments
Read more