After the August release of "The Illusionist," which starred Edward Norton as a magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna, it's fair to ask: Does the world really need a movie about two magicians in turn-of-the-century London?

Maybe not. But "The Prestige" manages to transcend invidious comparisons and come up with a few classy tricks of its own. For starters, there's the fantastic Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine, who play feuding magicians and their mentor, respectively. There's the frisson offered by supporting players Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie (as electricity pioneer Nikola Tesla). And there's the twisty plot that, unlike "The Illusionist," actually gives viewers a fighting chance to figure things out before the Big Reveal in the third act.

There are cheats along the way: Too much of "The Prestige" depends on trapdoors, ropes, body doubles and assorted misdirects. But director Christopher Nolan ("Memento") keeps the action moving and coherent as Jackman's character goes back in time while obsessively trying to discover his rival's secrets. And Bale and Jackman inject their reliable charisma into two otherwise very cold fish. Okay, I'll say it: If you see only one magic-at-the-turn-of-the-century movie this year, make it this one.

-- Ann Hornaday (Oct. 19, 2006)

Contains violence and disturbing images.