The Prestige is a film set in Victorian era London, where performing magicians enjoy a certain prestige that matches that of the sex symbols of our time. But that prestige is not where the film took its title. The eponymous “prestige” is the Prestige: the third part of every magic trick.

As stated in the movie’s theatrical trailer, “Every great magic trick consists of three acts. The first act is called “The Pledge”; The magician shows you something ordinary, but of course… it probably isn’t. The second act is called “The Turn”; The magician makes his ordinary something do something extraordinary. Now if you’re looking for the secret… you won’t find it, that’s why there’s a third act called, “The Prestige”; this is the part with the twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance, and you see something shocking you’ve never seen before.”

You’d think this is just a popcorn movie where the magicians do their magic and the audience, the ones in the movie and the ones that are not, are left dumbfounded and wondering how the tricks could have possibly been done, and something goes wrong along the way just to give rise to a conflict to be resolved in the end. But, as the National Geographic Channel would advise, think again. In fact, that’s exactly what a discriminating viewer would do for the minutes and hours and days to come after watching the movie. Think and think again. The film really is as cerebral as it is movie-magical.

With Memento and Batman Begins mastermind Christopher Nolan at the helm and with extraordinary performances from Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and the inimitable David Bowie, the film itself makes for a great magic trick to behold, with its heart-pounding climax making for a powerful prestige.

Watch closely.