Prisoners Reviews

I already saw this movie but since it was a while back and since it was available on Netflix, I thought I might rewatch it. I remember it quick well though, the first time around, since this movie had built up quite a reputation, I was really eager to check it out. First of all, I have to say that I'm usually not a huge fan of such thrillers because they rely too much on the usual tricks and gimmicks. Well, this one was really a different kind of ball game and it was easily the best movie I have seen in this genre for many years. Where should I start? First, it was emotionally so intense, you spent more than 2 hours with these characters and, at some point, it became pretty much a genuine nightmare. I mean, thanks to some stellar performances and some really solid writing, you get so close to the characters, not only the parents but also the detective looking for those girls, that it became so believable that you could feel their agony and despair. At some point, following this terrible predicament, one of the parents makes a terrible judgment call but how many parents, in the same situation wouldn't do the same? Following 'Incendies', it is another spellbinding thriller delivered by Denis Villeneuve who once again pushed the viewers in the darkest corners of the human mind and, once again, I will keep thinking about this flick for a long time. This first time around, the damned thing was so intense that I didn’t notice the speech of Melissa Leo’s character but it actually explains why she would inflict so much pain and this logic was actually quite terrifying. Anyway, to conclude, it was a daunting and terrific thriller and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

One of my favorite movies of 2013, and really an underrated movie that you don't want to miss.
The story is full of mystery as two girls in a small village kidnapped in brought daylight and the families starts a massive search for them and then arrest a suspect that had mental problems and can't tell them anything.
The movie had fantastic performances by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal as they show a great character development over the events.
The movie is over two hours, although it seemed a bit slow but everything counts in this movie and contribute to the story.
The end was very creative and very surprising at the same time, this movie deserve a second look to fully appreciate everything about it.

I witnessed many surprises this year and 'Prisoners' is one of those made me stun. With the big names in it, the movie revolves around a mysterious incident that puts two families into the sorrow. The deeply moving characters and its emotions are the movie's plus point and of course the great performance by the great actors as well. It is refreshing to see Hugh Jackman in a role the father to a missing child.

A similar kinda movie to 'The Lovely Bones' where two young girls are go missing and their parent's never ending search for them begins. With a single clue they begin to dig every detail to bring back their children along with the help of a young cop. As expected character diversion had an important hand in mystify and confuse the viewers without falling for anything to conclude their prediction before it reveal itself.

Fine photography. It was pleasant to see cool frames where there's no sun glare but always cloudy, shadow and dark atmosphere something like the movie 'The Awakening'. It brought real close to us the real grief of a family that we can almost feel it. Good or bad ending, the way it ends is all matters. In this story they give us an opportunity to take it either way as you want. One thing I was not convinced is the motivation for the abduction. The reason seemed to me a silly but in reality everything can be possible and sometimes it won't need reasons at all. Finally, it is a must not miss movie from the 2013 film calender.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Prisoners principally follows two characters in the search for two missing girls: the distraught father trying to torture information out of the apparent culprit, and the police officer on the case.
It's strange that, among so many movies this year based on true stories, this one apparently isn't! :) It plays itself so seriously that I kept expecting "a true story" to appear on screen.
And it's that sense of realism that's the movie's greatest strength. That approach perfectly fits the grim, sombre tone the movie sets up – but never to the point where it gets depressing. Nothing feels farfetched or artificial, and the characters all seem like real people. In particular, major kudos to Hugh Jackman! :) Even though the character is being driven to horrific torture, every mannerism of his performance makes him seem just like an ordinary guy every step of the way. When he flips out, you really believe it!
But while it's executed so brilliantly, it's not tailored completely to my taste. A lot of the dialogue is a little too simplistic for my liking, and the overall pacing is maybe a bit too slow to be truly engaging or suspenseful.
It's also pretty disappointing that Hugh Jackman's wife gets tossed aside for almost the entire movie, but now I'm just nitpicking.
Overall, while it plods a little too much for me, this is still one of the most impressive movies I've seen all year.

My rating: 80%

"Pray for the best, but prepare for the worst."

A refreshing change of pace following 2013's summer blockbuster season, Prisoners is an intense morality tale that plays out as a twisty police procedural thriller, exhibiting more sophistication and artistry than one would expect from a story like this. Helmed by Denis Villeneuve (making his Hollywood debut) and written by Aaron Guzikowski (Contraband), the film is multilayered and smart, proving to be an emotionally, mentally and philosophically fatiguing experience. While it seems like a straightforward whodunit on the surface, Prisoners is more concerned with the effects that a kidnapping case has on the picture's main players. The movie does clock in at almost two-and-a-half hours, but it earns every captivating frame.

To celebrate Thanksgiving, Keller (Hugh Jackman) and his wife Grace (Maria Bello) visit friends Franklin (Terrence Howard) and Nancy (Viola Davis), letting their respective children interact and play with one another. But not much attention is given to the youngest daughters of each of the families, who suddenly go missing after venturing outside without parental supervision. The case is assigned to Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), a seasoned, focused police investigator who has solved every crime that he has investigated. Arresting the mentally handicapped Alex Jones (Paul Dano) as a suspect, Loki unfortunately has no concrete evidence to keep the boy locked up. When Alex is released, Keller goes crazy, abducting the suspect to torture him for information in secret. As Loki persists with his investigation, Keller sees Alex as his only hope of getting the girls back, yet he might be wrong and time is fast running out.

There is not a trace of Hollywood artifice within any of the characters, as they all feel like realistic, fallible human beings. If another team of filmmakers told this story, Keller would unquestionably be the hero - a strong, smart, muscular presence who kicks ass and saves the girls. But Prisoners isn't like that, and this is no ego trip for Jackman. Deconstructing the invincible father figure seen in Taken and 24, Jackman's Keller is initially depicted in a sympathetic light but gradually transforms into a monstrous brute, and it's a huge achievement on the part of both Jackman and the screenplay that his voyage to the dark side is gripping and plausible. This is arguably Jackman's best performance to date, a nuanced and focused portrait of a broken man struggling to deal with his emotional grief. Likewise, Gyllenhaal rediscovers the gravitas and maturity we witnessed in End of Watch, turning in a credible performance that lets you forget that you're even looking at the actor. It's an immersive turn from Gyllenhaal, and he looks in tune with the material and his character at all times. Fortunately, the supporting cast could not be any better. Dano is especially chameleonic, disappearing into the role of Alex and effortlessly selling his character's mental disabilities. Melissa Leo, Maria Bello and Viola Davis provide solid support as well, while Terrence Howard submits his best work in years.

The pairing of director Villeneuve and cinematographer Roger Deakins (Skyfall, True Grit) was truly a match made in cinematic heaven, making for a visually striking thriller thick in atmosphere. Prisoners is set beneath the perpetually chilly, gloomy, often rainy skies of Pennsylvania, and the sense of place is immaculately established through Deakins' meticulous photography. He captures the texture of both the season-specific atmosphere and small-town milieu, and the composition and framing are genuinely breathtaking throughout. Furthermore, Villeneuve clearly knew that pacing is a major factor in the effectiveness of a mystery like this, and he acts appropriately - Prisoners lingers when it's suitable, and moves onto the next scene or plot point when the time feels right. The director excels at tension as well, assembling a handful of incredibly nail-biting scenes during which this reviewer felt wholly invested in the on-screen proceedings. The initial realisation that the girls are missing is heart-wrenching stuff, and it's hard to tear your eyes away from the screen during pivotal scenes later in the story. In lesser hands, Prisoners would be a low-rent, made-for-television affair, but it's a visual and aural masterpiece in the hands of this filmmaking team.

Astonishingly, the trailers for Prisoners held out on us, as they only shed light on the first third of the picture, establishing the basic set-up but refusing to show much more. It's wonderful to report that the full movie is darker and denser than expected, balancing the stories of the entire ensemble as the screenplay examines how the various characters deal with their grief. Although some viewers may solve the mystery before the big reveal happens, Prisoners doesn't live and die by its ability to surprise you. What matters the most here is the journey, and Villeneuve puts together an involving, emotionally gruelling thriller that never loses momentum despite its intimidating length. Unfortunately, the story's conclusion is not entirely successful, jettisoning the intelligence of the rest of the picture in favour of theatrics right out of an episode of a standard police procedural drama. It's not a deal-breaker, but a darker, tauter climax might've made for an overall superior product.

While aspects of the picture's climax are silly, the film's final scene cannot be criticised. It may be angering or disappointing to those expecting an ending that ties everything up neatly, but it's the perfect conclusion for those who enjoy having something to chew on and ponder once a film ends. Prisoners does commit a few sins, and it's probably not revolutionary enough to attract attention at the Oscars, but its flaws can be overlooked due to the impeccable filmmaking and the otherwise smart scripting. It's haunting and gripping viewing, with its thematic density and top-flight acting ensuring that it will not be easily forgotten.

8.3/10

When creating a film that resonates with an audience, one of two things need to be present. Strong acting, or a story that can carry enough emotions despite the mediocre performances. Prisoners has both strong acting and emotional story that as it develops continues to increase the emotional stakes for every character involved.

Detective Loki is doing all he can to find two missing girls, but for Keller Dover nothing will be enough until his daughter is home safe. Dover takes matters into his own hands and decides to interrogate the suspect using his own tactics.

Prisoners has enough emotion to last a long time, and knows exactly when to add more thanks to the haunting visuals created by director Denis Villeneuve. Just when things seem dark enough, Villeneuve incorporates a camera trick that makes it even more ominous and eerie. As the film progresses the stakes are set pretty high for the people involved, but Villeneuve takes his time approaching the climax with a striking precision that very directors have. He waits for the correct moment to drop every twist, he waits for the perfect timing to grab the perfect reaction from these more than capable actors. He makes sure the audience is hooked by always knowing the time to reveal a key piece of information. It is never too much to process as far as plot goes, but very seldom does the result end up generating a positive emotion. This film is difficult to handle, the darkness and chilling atmosphere of the realistic story on display makes the emotional fallout devastating on more than just a film basis.

The reason these emotions are always so difficult to handle is because of the actors portraying them. Jackman is at the top of his game. His emotional range as an actor is tested multiple times during this film and not once does he falter. Jackman gives off one of the finer performances I have seen him give. He never sets himself up for allowing too much emotion. He displays a wide range from anger, fear, sadness and guilt. Yet over the course of this films run, those actions are all part of the phenomenal character development. Gyllenhaal falls in nicely, playing the quiet detective assigned to the case who begins to find himself emotionally invested in the case at hand. Gyllenhaal seems quiet and reserved, saving his display of emotions for the thrilling climax. It's not to say Gyllenhaal was boring in the early going but once again a testament to the fact Villeneuve knew exactly how to capture the scene.

Prisoners is a slow burning film, which can be an immediate turn off for certain people. The script written by Aaron Guzikowski allows for this film to be exactly what it needs to be, which is a gripping, haunting piece about how frightening this world can be. This film will resonate with you, maybe not because of that one memorable scene. Maybe not because of that long winded action scene that was full of explosives, but because of how simplistic most of the set pieces were. Nothing about this film was either narratively complicated or visually complicated, but it makes a poignant social commentary about morals and how far is too far.

Easily one of the finest pieces of drama so far in 2013. Compelling, emotionally gripping and darkly realistic. Enter Prisoners knowing it will be in your mind long after you watch it. Nothing about this film is easy to handle. Definitely recommended for those who want a film that will grip them from start to finish. Jackman and Gyllenhaal are perfect in this film, don't pass this one up.