The Disappearing Bird
You're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled."
I love the illusions within this film and its foreshadowing. Here's an example of illusion to consider.
In the beginning, Cutter shows the little girl a disappearing bird. We think its a simple trick of misdirection and slight of hand. the foreshadowing is the large number of birds in cages, a foreshadow of Angier as well, of course.
Later, we see another magician perform the same trick. Notice his facial expression. He seems harsh compared to Cutter. The boy immediately cries. Borden shows us how the trick works. The obvious foreshadow is the expression of the bird's brother.
Later, Cutter shows Angier a trick way to pull the dove within his jacket. Is it real or designed to trick the stage manager? We are not shown if there are more than two doves. The dove that reappears does not have the string on its foot. We see the trick repeated later. But, wouldn't it pretty much break its leg? I think we are left with no true explanation. Or are we to imagine that the trick really works the way it is told by Cutter? Maybe this foreshadows how Angier disappears and Root takes the bow, because nobody really cares to find out if the first dove is alright. Angier is still using a second dove.
In the ending, we see the sweet little girl not realizing that the friendly Cutter is mashing a little bird before her face during this 'happy' ending of the film. So, you were looking for Borden's reappearance to his daughter, and you forgot about the helpless bird being crushed.
Good thing Borden's nephew wasn't there.
I've noticed very slight mannerisms whether Bale is playing Alfred or Fredrick. I didn't note down every thought but I might some day. Freddy is a bit more harsh in his voice and has a bit of different facial expressions from Alfred.
Best unknown feature at IMDB.com
http://www.imdb.com/features/video/browse/
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