Nell'Inghilterra vittoriana l'amicizia tra due apprendisti prestigiatori si interromperà tragicamente, quando la moglie di uno dei due finirà uccisa forse per un errore dell'altro.
Le rispettive carriere proseguono separate, ma la rivalità non farà che accrescersi: da una parte si cercherà l'omicidio per vendicare la moglie, dall'altra l'umiliazione del rivale.
È un'epoca di grandi meraviglie; i trucchi non bastano più e sempre più spesso si fa ricorso alla scienza, che ormai va confondendosi con la magia: l'entrata in scena di Nicola Tesla stravolgerà il gioco tra i due prestigiatori.
Una sceneggiatura complessa e brillante, con dei tocchi di classe e genio: la lettura incrociata dei diari, i doppiogiochi ed i colpi di scena.
Geniale inscenare la rivalità tra Tesla ed Edison quasi come se le guerre tra scienziati fossero l'equivalente vittoriano delle turf war tra gangsta rapper.
Cast di primordine per una ottima regia di Christopher Nolan (che personalmente mi aveva deluso in Batman Begins). Immenso David Bowie.
Il film prosegue in una atmosfera che rasenta il surreale, eppure nonostante tutto si fa in modo che allo spettatore resti sempre ben chiaro il tema portante, ovvero la rivalità tra i due uomini.
Voto: 8.
Tags: drammatico, thriller, fantasy, prestigiatore, magia, mago, scienziato, Inghilterra, Stati Uniti, travestimento, impostore, ferita, mutilazione, morte, annegamento, illusionista, suicidio, impiccagione, Londra, spionaggio, Tesla.
Bowie, David (I)
Nome di battesimo: Hayward-Jones, David Robert
Data di nascita: 8 January 1947
Altezza: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
Coniuge: Iman::(24 April 1992 - present) 1 daughter, Angela Bowie::(19 March 1970 - 1980) (divorced) 1 son
Ultimi lavori:
- Arthur et les Minimoys (2006) .... Maltazard (voice: English version) [attore]
- The Prestige (2006) .... Tesla [attore]
- Scott Walker: 30 Century Man (2006) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
- Best of Bowie (2002) (V) .... (videos "Ashes to Ashes" and "Loving the Alien") [regista]
- Mr. Rice's Secret (2000) .... Mr. Rice [attore]
- Everybody Loves Sunshine (1999) .... Bernie [attore]
- Omikron: The Nomad Soul (1999) (VG) .... Boz (voice) [attore]
- Il Mio West (1998) .... Jack Sikora [attore]
- Passaggio per il paradiso (1998) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
- Basquiat (1996) .... Andy Warhol [attore]
Biografia:
David Bowie is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of pop music. Born David Jones, he changed his name to Bowie in the 1960s, to avoid confusion with the then well-known Davy Jones (lead singer of The Monkees).The 1960s were not a happy period for Bowie, who remained a struggling artist, awaiting his breakthrough. He dabbled in many different styles of music (without commercial success), and other art forms such as acting, mime, painting, and playwriting. He finally achieved his commercial breakthrough in 1969 with the song "Space Oddity," which was released at the time of the moon landing. Despite the fact that the literal meaning of the lyrics relates to an astronaut who is lost in space, this song was used by the BBC in their coverage of the moon landing, and this helped it become such a success. The album, which followed "Space Oddity," and the two, which followed (one of which included the song "The Man Who Sold The World," covered by Lulu and Nirvana) failed to produce another hit single, and Bowie's career appeared to be in decline. However, he made the first of many successful "comebacks" in 1972 with "Ziggy Stardust," a concept album about a space-age rock star. This album was followed by others in a similar vein, rock albums built around a central character and concerned with futuristic themes of Armageddon, gender dysfunction/confusion, as well as more contemporary themes such as the destructiveness of success and fame, and the dangers inherent in star worship. In the mid 1970s, Bowie was a heavy cocaine abuser and sometime heroin user. In 1975, he changed tack. Musically, he released "Young Americans," a soul (or plastic soul as he later referred to it) album. This produced his first number one hit in the US, "Fame." He also appeared in his first major film, The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). With his different-colored eyes and skeletal frame, he certainly looked the part of an alien. The following year, he released "Station to Station," containing some of the material he had written for the soundtrack to this film (which was not used). As his drug problem heightened, his behaviour became more erratic. Reports of his insanity started to appear, and he continued to waste away physically. He fled back to Europe, finally settling in Berlin, where he changed musical direction again and recorded three of the most influential albums of all time, an electronic trilogy with Brian Eno "Low, Heroes and Lodger." Towards the end of the 1970s, he finally kicked his drug habit, and recorded the album many of his fans consider his best, the Japanese-influenced "Scary Monsters." Around this time, he played the Elephant Man on Broadway, to considerable acclaim.The next few years saw something of a drop-off in his musical output as his acting career flourished, culminating in his acclaimed performance in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983). In 1983, he recorded "Let's Dance," an album which proved an unexpected massive commercial success, and produced his second number 1 hit single in the US. The tour which followed, "Serious Moonlight," was his most successful ever. Faced with this success on a massive scale, Bowie apparently attempted to "repeat the formula" in the next two albums, with less success (and to critical scorn). Finally, in the late 1980s, he turned his back on commercial success and his solo career, forming the hard rock band, Tin Machine, who had a deliberate limited appeal. By now, his acting career was in decline. After the comparative failure of Labyrinth (1986), the movie industry appears to have decided that Bowie was not a sufficient name to be a lead actor in a major movie, and since that date, most of his roles have been cameos or glorified cameos. He himself also seems to have lost interest in movie acting. Tin Machine toured extensively and released two albums, with little critical or commercial success.In 1992, Bowie again changed direction and re-launched his solo career with "Black Tie White Noise," a "wedding" album inspired by his recent marriage to Iman. To date, the 1990s have been kinder to Bowie than the late 1980s. He has released three albums to considerable critical acclaim and reasonable commercial success. In 1995, he renewed his working relationship with Brian Eno to record "Outside." After an initial hostile reaction from the critics, this album has now taken its place with his classic albums. In a career spanning four decades, Bowie has influenced the course of popular music several times and influenced several generations of musicians. His promotional videos in the 1970s and 80s are regarded as ground-breaking, and as a live concert act, he is regarded as the most theatrical of them all.
Trivia random: Gave up his 50 cigarettes a day smoking habit in 2004.
Citazione random: "You would think that a rock star being married to a super-model would be one of the greatest things in the world. It is."
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Prestige, The (2006)
Regista: Christopher Nolan
Scrittore: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
Genere: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Valutazione: 8.4/10 (78049 voti) [#88 nella top250]
Durata: 130 min
Paese: USA, UK
Lingua: English
Cast:
- Hugh Jackman .... Robert Angier
- Christian Bale .... Alfred Borden
- Michael Caine .... Cutter
- Piper Perabo .... Julia McCullough
- Rebecca Hall .... Sarah
- Scarlett Johansson .... Olivia Wenscombe
- Samantha Mahurin .... Jess
- David Bowie .... Tesla
- Andy Serkis .... Alley
- Daniel Davis .... Judge
Trama:
In the end of the Nineteenth Century, in London, Robert Angier, his beloved wife Julia McCullough and Alfred Borden are friends and assistants of a magician. When Julia accidentally dies during a performance, Robert blames Alfred for her death and they become enemies. Both become famous and rival magicians, sabotaging the performance of the other on the stage. When Alfred performs a successful trick, Robert becomes obsessed trying to disclose the secret of his competitor with tragic consequences.
Trivia random: Sam Mendes had shown interest in adapting Christopher Priest's novel for the big-screen, but Priest insisted that 'Christopher Nolan' direct the film, based on his love for both Following (1998) and Memento (2000).
Citazione random: Cutter: Obsession is a young man's game
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Nolan, Christopher (I)
Nome di battesimo: Nolan, Christopher Johnathan James
Data di nascita: 30 July 1970
Altezza: 5' 11" (1.80 m)
Coniuge: Emma Thomas::(1997 - present)
Ultimi lavori:
- The Dark Knight (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
- The Prestige (2006) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Batman Begins (2005) (VG) .... [scrittore]
- Cinema16: British Short Films (2003) (V) .... [regista]
- Insomnia (2002/I) .... [regista]
- Memento (2000) .... (screenplay) [scrittore]
- Following (1998) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Doodlebug (1997) .... [scrittore]
Biografia:
Born in London in 1970, Christopher Nolan began making films at the age of seven using his father's super 8mm camera and an assortment of male-action figures. He graduated to making films involving real people, and his super 8mm surreal short 'tarantella' was shown on PBS' 'image union' in 1989. Chris studied English Literature at University College London while starting to make 16mm films at the college film society. His short film 'larceny' was shown at the Cambridge Film Festival in 1996, and his other 16mm shorts include a three- minute surreal film called 'doodlebug'.
Trivia random: Gained major funding during the 1999 Hong Kong Film Festival by showing his film Following (1998) and then asking the audience to donate money to his next film Memento (2000).
Citazione random: [On using CGI in Batman Begins] "I think there's a vague sense out there that movies are becoming more and more unreal, I know I've felt it. The demand we put on ourselves was to be as spectacular as possible, but not depend on computer graphics to do it."
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Batman Begins (2005)
Regista: Christopher Nolan
Scrittore: Bob Kane, David S. Goyer
Genere: Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller
Valutazione: 8.3/10 (131393 voti) [#96 nella top250]
Durata: 140 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: Mandarin, English
Cast:
- Christian Bale .... Bruce Wayne/Batman
- Michael Caine .... Alfred
- Liam Neeson .... Henri Ducard
- Katie Holmes .... Rachel Dawes
- Gary Oldman .... Jim Gordon
- Cillian Murphy .... Dr. Jonathan Crane
- Tom Wilkinson .... Carmine Falcone
- Rutger Hauer .... Earle
- Ken Watanabe .... Ra's Al Ghul
- Mark Boone Junior .... Flass
Trama:
In tone with the early "Batman: Year One" style comics. As a boy a young Bruce Wayne watched in horror as his millionaire parents were slain in front of his eyes, a trauma which led him to become obsessed with revenge but his chance is cruelly taken away from him by fate. After disappearing to the East where he seeks counsel with the dangerous but honorable ninja cult leader known as Ra's Al-Ghul, he returns to his now decaying Gotham City overrun by organized crime and dangerous individuals manipulating the system whilst the company he inherited is slowly being pulled out from under him. The discovery of a cave under his mansion, and a prototype armored suit leads him to take on a new persona, one which will strike fear into the hearts of men who do wrong - he becomes, Batman. In the new guise, and with the help of rising cop Jim Gordon, Batman sets out to take down the various nefarious schemes in motion by individuals such as mafia don Falcone, the twisted doctor/drug dealer Jonathan 'The Scarecrow' Crane, and a mysterious third party that is quite familiar with Wayne and waiting to strike when the time is right.
Trivia random: Arnold Schwarzenegger stopped by at one of the sets during filming.
Citazione random: Alfred Pennyworth: Are you coming back to Gotham for long, sir?::Bruce Wayne: As long as it takes. I'm gonna show the people of Gotham that their city doesn't belong to the criminals and the corrupt.::Alfred Pennyworth: In the depression, your father nearly bankrupted Wayne Enterprises combating poverty. He believed his example could inspire the wealthy of Gotham to save their city.::Bruce Wayne: Did it?::Alfred Pennyworth: In a way. Their murders shocked the wealthy and the powerful into action.::Bruce Wayne: People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne, as a man I'm flesh and blood I can be ignored I can be destroyed but as a symbol, as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting.::Alfred Pennyworth: What symbol?::Bruce Wayne: Something elemental, something terrifying.::Alfred Pennyworth: I assume that as you're taking on the underworld, this symbol is a persona to protect those you care about from reprisals.::Bruce Wayne: You thinking about Rachel?::Alfred Pennyworth: Actually, sir, I was thinking about myself.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento