Released: September 2013
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Run Time: 153 Minutes
Cast:
Hugh Jackman: Keller Dover
Jake Gyllenhaal: Detective Loki
Terrence Howard: Franklin Birch
Paul Dano: Alex Jones
Melissa Leo: Holly Jones
Maria Bello: Grace Dover
Before I begin with this one, let me ask a question: If you had a child and that child disappeared, and the only suspect in the possible crime is either unable or unwilling to cooperate, how far would you go to get answers? What measures are you prepared to take to get your child back? These are some of the questions that are asked of the audience in 2013’s crime thriller, Prisoners.
The story begins in a forest when Keller Dover(Hugh Jackman)is taking his son hunting. When they get home, they prepare to have Thanksgiving dinner with Dover’s friend, Franklin Birch(Terrence Howard)and HIS family. Birch’s and Dover’s daughters go outside to play, and when the time comes to sit down and eat, the girls are nowhere to be seen. Frantically searching Dover’s house AND Birch’s house, they find no trace of the girls. Detective Loki(Jake Gyllenhall)is called to investigate. He finds a lone suspect in an RV which matches the description given by Keller’s son, and they take the suspect into custody. Unfortunately, the RV contains no evidence that links the suspect, Alex Jones(Paul Dano),to the crime. Keller isn’t so convinced. As time wears on and desperation sets in, Keller is forced to take desperate measures to find the missing children.
Before anyone asks, this movie is not a Taken-style of movie, where the protagonist tears apart the town and beating the daylights out of people that are responsible for his daughter’s abduction. This is not an action film. It’s slow, methodical and deliberate. It’s also dark and bleak. Outside of some of the opening scenes, there really isn’t an ounce of humor to be found here, and that’s ok. When you’re dealing with the abduction of little girls, all the jokes go out the window as it is an extremely serious matter. This is not just a drama, but it is also a police procedural, and thriller all mixed into one and it works very well. I won’t spoil the film, but I can tell you that after the girls are abducted, the story takes on a life of its own and pushes many of the characters to the breaking point. Taking the lead is Hugh Jackman, who plays a fairly normal person that happens to be caught in the middle of something tragic and sinister. I’ve always been a big fan of Hugh’s ever since appeared in X-Men. This guy has really evolved as an actor, as evidenced by some of the movies he’s been in. Keller is a guy who is driven the edge of madness, because he fears for his daughter’s life and over the course of the film, you start to see the desperation set in and watch him change into a different kind of person. Gyllenhall’s Loki is the foil to Jackman’s Keller. While Keller is willing to do whatever it takes to find his baby girl, Loki is more concerned about how to do it properly. He’s just as concerned about the abduction as Keller is, but is far more patient and methodical about dealing with it. I’ve never really thought much about Jake Gyllenhall before Prisoners. I thought he was an o.k. actor, but he really pulls out all the stops in Prisoners. You see his character constantly blink as if he was on a caffeine high, and how he deals with potential suspects gets pretty brutal. It’s obvious, that Loki has his own issues that he’s dealing with and throughout the story, you begin to see the cracks as he becomes desperate.
Caught in the middle of all this is Terrence Howard who plays Franklin Birch, who’s daughter was also stolen from him. He’s as desperate to get his daughter back, but when he and Keller abduct Alex Jones, it doesn’t really agree with him. Howard is an interesting actor and he brings a very emotional depth to his character that really makes you feel for him. In some ways, he’s suffering more than Keller, because Keller is willing to torture somebody to get answers, but Franklin isn’t. It’s an interesting dynamic that really allows the two to shine together. Paul Dano is really good as Alex Jones, a man who doesn’t appear to be quite right in the head. All the actors in this movie, including Maria Bello who plays Keller’s wife. Even though Jackman and Gyllenhall are at the front, everyone gets their chance to shine, and that’s what helps give this movie a life of its own.
For some people, the two and a half hour run time may seem a little….long. Personally, I like it. The longer it gets, the more it gets under your skin, and that’s why it’s an effective thriller. The desperation of looking for a lost loved one really helps anchor the film. It’s also done in a fairly realistic manner, even though there are some strange coincidences. With all the twists and turns in this film, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where it’s going to go next. I will be honest here: This movie goes to some very dark and uncomfortable areas. But i think that really help gives the film its unique….flavor, if you will.
This is French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve’s first English language effort, and it’s masterfully done. It is one of the most intriguing thrillers that I’ve ever seen. By the time the credits roll, you are left with a very thought-provoking film that stays with you long after you switch off the TV. I would imagine that a movie like this would be more intense for people who have children, because it deals with a parent’s worst nightmare. It’s an intense film that is a slow-burner, but the payoff is worth it. With Oscar-worthy performances, a great story, and some very unique twists and turns, this is film that I can EASILY recommend to anyone who’s a fan of mysteries and thrillers. 10/10 is my final verdict for Prisoners. Comments, suggestions? Let me know.