WhileThe Prestigeisn’t always listed amongHugh Jackman ’s dependable flick , the underrated thriller prove that we necessitate the whiz to take on more villain roles . There are few actors who I associate with larger-than-life part as much as Hugh Jackman . Jackman ’s carrying out as Wolverine cement his status as a fabled screen superhero , but there are plenty of other character that reinforce his heroic screen persona . His charismatic personation of P.T. Barnum inThe Greatest Showman , his put - upon Jean Valjean inLes Miserables , and the fresh rom - com heroes ofPaperback HeroandKate & Leopoldall prove Jackman ’s heroic bonafides .
A 14 - yr - old Ridley Scott flick flopped with a 44 % Rotten Tomatoes grudge , but a young Hugh Jackman pic can now eventually make up for its failure .
As if to further prove this spot , Jackman ’s rare villainous roles have included some of his full-grown flops . WhereHugh Jackman ’s good rolesoften see him represent grinder like Wolverine , 2015’sPanand the same year’sChappieboth saw Jackman take on rare baddie roles . The headliner had a blast play these antagonists , but both movies were critical and commercial-grade loser . For me , this reinforce the theme that Jackman ’s best bet was stick to heroic roles . However , one ofdirector Christopher Nolan ’s most underrated moviesreminded me this is n’t necessarily the case .
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The Prestige’s Rupert Angier Is Hugh Jackman’s Best Villain Role
The Wolverine Actor Stuns As Christopher Nolan’s Obsessive Magician
The Prestigeis a complicated , virtuously ambiguous story of two obsessional necromancer who set out to demolish each other after their path pass over early on in their degree careers . Jackman ’s Rupert Angier is a virtuoso showman who give his animation to his craft , while Bale ’s mercurial Alfred Borden is a work - class sorcerer whose lifelike talent leads him to overlook the phase . The Prestige ’s twist endingreveals just how much Borden bank on natural gift , while his challenger required elaborate stagecraft . Nolan ’s movie audaciously expose Bale ’s character had a secret twin all along .
Angier ’s take on the trick need cloning himself nightly and kill a clon at each functioning .
Thus , Borden ’s ill-famed Transported Man trick was nothing more than a pair of identical Twin Falls swapping places . This illusion cost Borden his personal living , as he and his Gemini know as the same person for ten to maintain the semblance . However , the same trick price Angier his soul and his sanity , driving him to innovation and murder as he set about to replicate the Transported Man . He eventually follow , but Angier ’s take on the trick involved cloning himself every night and kill a clon at each performance . This , along with framing Borden for his murder , take AngierThe Prestige ’s villain .
Hugh Jackman Should Really Play Villains More Often
The Prestige Showcased Jackman’s Considerable Range
While Angier is the worst of the moving-picture show ’s two main persona , Hugh Jackman makesThe Prestige ’s villain a captivating figure . His performance imbues Angier with the same charm asThe Greatest Showman ’s Barnum and I admire his dedication to the art of magic despite its personal price . What makesThe Prestigeone of Nolan ’s best moviesis the movie ’s study of these two conflicted character who , in another life , might have been great friends and collaborators . I was wow by Jackman check Angier never feels like a one - note obsessive villain , instead lend the audience onside as he skin to uncover Borden ’s secret .
This should n’t come as a surprise take how near Jackman ’s other nefarious persona are . Jackman ’s scene - chomping is the highlight of the otherwise painfulChappieand , while he could n’t single - handedly carry through the misguidedPan , he is the undecomposed thing about the flaky fantasy/ fairy tale/ musical hybrid . Meanwhile , although far from a traditional villain , his role in 2013’sPrisonersproved to me that Jackman has image to spare . The whiz is both kindly and shivery in the theatrical role of a suburban father whose vigilantism gets out of helping hand with tragic consequences .
We Can’t Forget How Versatile Hugh Jackman Is (Despite His Wolverine Return)
The Screen Veteran’s Career Includes More Than Just Heroic Roles
It ’s easy to associate Jackman with Wolverine alone , and the player has earned a place in the pantheon of peachy comic book movie performance . That said , it is authoritative not to pretermit out on the wizard ’s range thanks to the popularity of this use . Wolverine ’s severely - edged cynicism is one side of Jackman ’s screen persona , but the blanket - eyed noble-mindedness of Barnum is every bit compelling . Jackman ’s likable Christopher Nolan villainwas engaging thanks to his cold , clinical tending to detail , while I found the misguided antihero ofPrisonersfascinating thanks to his hot - headed attitude .
The Prestigeearned $ 109 million on a budget of $ 40 million upon its 2006 release .
Van Helsingsaw Jackman roleplay a more traditionally quippy hoagie , while 2008’sAustraliaproved the virtuoso could headline an Old Hollywood melodrama . Jackman has a various screen curriculum vitae , something that the success of both the Wolverine movies and his collaboration with Nolan proves . The star has weather his fair share of collapse , but I ’m glad this allowed him to take on a broader reach of roles . The Prestigeshowed thatHugh Jackmanstill harbors plenty of potential in moody function , while the rest of his career notice him out as one of the great blockbuster hero .
