The Prestige question

[batman1]

Since borden saw tesla first did he get made 1 clone? Weird nobody knew he had a twin even his wife. The clone got hung. Did anybody else think this?

 

[The Endless]

Hmmmm... i haven't seen it in a while can't quite remember if Bordon met him first? But you could be on to something!

 

[spider-neil]

All Borden got from Tesla was a light show.

 

[CGHulk]

Borden lied about going to Tesla just to get rid if Angier. Sending him on a wilid goose chase just to get him out of his hair. The only thing Borden was guilty of was thoughtlessness, which in the end he paid for with his sister in laws death the loss of his girlfriend and finally Angeir's revenge.

 

[batman1]

just asking.

 

[BatLobster]

No offense and obviously I'm not a mod, but there's an all-encompassing Christopher Nolan thread where you could be putting these questions rather than starting new threads.

 

[Kirmit]

The only thing Borden was guilty of was thoughtlessness, which in the end he paid for with his sister in laws death the loss of his girlfriend and finally Angeir's revenge.

As Borden was two people he didn't have a sister in law did he? They both had a wife and both had a girlfriend or am I wrong in that?

 

[Schlosser85]

Borden's twin was his real twin brother. He never went to Tesla at all, he just tricked Angier into thinking he did to throw him off his trail.

The only one who met Tesla and made clones was Angier.

 

[Schlosser85]

As Borden was two people he didn't have a sister in law did he? They both had a wife and both had a girlfriend or am I wrong in that?

Yea the twins rotated, which is why sometimes Borden's wife could tell he didn't love her and sometimes he said it and she could tell he meant it.

One twin loved the wife and the other wanted Scarlett Johansson.

 

[The Shape]

No offense and obviously I'm not a mod, but there's an all-encompassing Christopher Nolan thread where you could be putting these questions rather than starting new threads.

Jeez, let batman1 live!

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

The question I have is how much did Sarah know? She obviously could tell something was off with Borden and she had requested a meeting with Olivia to tell her something, but Olivia blew her off and she committed suicide before we could find out what she wanted to tell her.

I really wish Nolan did a commentary on this film.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Yea the twins rotated, which is why sometimes Borden's wife could tell he didn't love her and sometimes he said it and she could tell he meant it.

One twin loved the wife and the other wanted Scarlett Johansson.

It is also why Borden can't remember certain things, like which knot he tied or that he promised to take his daughter to the zoo.

One twin (the one who loved Olivia and Angier framed for his murder) was more arrogant and reckless than the other one as well.

 

[Schlosser85]

The question I have is how much did Sarah know? She obviously could tell something was off with Borden and she had requested a meeting with Olivia to tell her something, but Olivia blew her off and she committed suicide before we could find out what she wanted to tell her.

I really wish Nolan did a commentary on this film.

I always thought Sarah found their makeup and stuff and realized there were two Bordens.

 

[childeroland]

I thought it was that Borden was so utterly on and off with his love for her -- some days he loved her, others he didn't -- that Sarah realized she was dealing with two different men.

 

[Warhammer]

Borden was a huge f***ing assh***. Angier was so much easier to root for, even in the end.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Borden was a huge f***ing assh***. Angier was so much easier to root for, even in the end.

I can't agree with that. Borden had his faults, but he legitimately did try to make things work out. He bombed spectacularly, but at least the effort was there.

Angier was a deranged psychopath who didn't give a crap about anyone. He even tells Olivia (while exploiting her too) that he doesn't care about his wife, just about destroying Borden. There was a good reason why his two closest allies (Olivia and Cutter) both abandon him for Borden.

Cutter was the only sensible one in the entire movie, but Borden was definitely more sympathetic than Angier.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I always thought Sarah found their makeup and stuff and realized there were two Bordens.

Olivia already knew about the makeup. She mentioned it earlier.

 

[Schlosser85]

I generally don't find Borden or Angier that sympathetic through most of the movie, but Angier definitely crosses more lines than Borden by the end.

The death of Angier's wife was a complete accident on the part of the other Borden twin. Doesn't make it right (just like Borden is also responsible for his wife's suicide), but it's not this calculated malicious scheme like what Angier comes up with.

Angier drowns 100 clones of himself just to give an impressive show. He's committing murder every night to impress an audience. He pimps out Olivia to Borden. Also, he frames Borden for his death, lets him hang for it, and steals his son, and the scene where Cutter visits makes it clear Angier doesn't give a **** about this kid, he just took him away from Borden to have another victory, and he's going to sentence this kid to growing up with a cold and indifferent father figure who doesn't give a damn about him.

All of that last bit is way more intentionally vicious than anything Borden ever did to Angier.

 

[Brother Jack]

It is also why Borden can't remember certain things, like which knot he tied or that he promised to take his daughter to the zoo.

One twin (the one who loved Olivia and Angier framed for his murder) was more arrogant and reckless than the other one as well.

The genius thing about his performance is that you can tell which one he's playing from scene to scene. It is incredibly subtle and only noticeable when you know the twist.

I really wish Nolan did a commentary on this film.

I don't. The ambiguity of it is part of its greatness. The mystery is what makes the story a big sleight of hand in and of itself. The whole film is a big magic trick and, as the saying goes, a magician should never reveal his secrets.

 

[Roose Bolton]

I generally don't find Borden or Angier that sympathetic through most of the movie, but Angier definitely crosses more lines than Borden by the end.

The death of Angier's wife was a complete accident on the part of the other Borden twin. Doesn't make it right (just like Borden is also responsible for his wife's suicide), but it's not this calculated malicious scheme like what Angier comes up with.

Angier drowns 100 clones of himself just to give an impressive show. He's committing murder every night to impress an audience. He pimps out Olivia to Borden. Also, he frames Borden for his death, lets him hang for it, and steals his son, and the scene where Cutter visits makes it clear Angier doesn't give a **** about this kid, he just took him away from Borden to have another victory, and he's going to sentence this kid to growing up with a cold and indifferent father figure who doesn't give a damn about him.

All of that last bit is way more intentionally vicious than anything Borden ever did to Angier.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?


Borden had a daughter

 

[Schlosser85]

Ok, Angier steals his daughter then. The point still stands. Angier taking the kid like that for sole revenge is incredibly cruel.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Well, on the flip side he could have let her go to the workhouses which would have been worse and was shown to be Borden's biggest fear for his child.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

The genius thing about his performance is that you can tell which one he's playing from scene to scene. It is incredibly subtle and only noticeable when you know the twist.

Right. It is interesting to go back and re-watch the film knowing the twist and still get a ton out of it. The amount of detail that Nolan crafted onto his work is amazing. I think it is his best film.

I don't. The ambiguity of it is part of its greatness. The mystery is what makes the story a big sleight of hand in and of itself. The whole film is a big magic trick and, as the saying goes, a magician should never reveal his secrets.

Fair enough. I can see your point.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Ok, Angier steals his daughter then. The point still stands. Angier taking the kid like that for sole revenge is incredibly cruel.

Other than confusing daughter/son, you were absolutely right.

It should be noted that even after all that Angier did to that point, Borden (and this was the 'evil' brother at that) still tried to save him from drowning in the tank.

 

[dude stannis]

I can't agree with that. Borden had his faults, but he legitimately did try to make things work out. He bombed spectacularly, but at least the effort was there.

Yeah, plus when you watch the film on repeat viewings, Alfred seemed to be a pretty good guy, whereas Freddie seemed to be the angry, impulsive one.