REVIEW: PRISONERS

In my opinion, crime-drama films are always challenging to make. There are only very few crime-drama films out there which are good and it is a genre not particularly popular with many. Some notable films include Inception (2010) and Zodiac (2007). One of the actors of Zodiac, Jake Gyllenhaal, also stars in this film I am about to review.

The film is titled Prisoners. It is directed by little-known Canadian director Denis Villeneuve. He has received various awards in film festivals around the world for the past few years. His last notable recognition was being nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2011 Oscars for Incendies. The film Prisoners could be just his break into mainstream Hollywood. The cast of the film includes big Hollywood names Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. It is supported by Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, and Oscar winner for The Fighter (2010) Melissa Leo. The Director of Photography happens to be on of my favourites, Roger Deakins, who has worked on 11 films for the Coen Brothers. Deakins is also the cinematographer for The Shawshank Redemption.

How will a relatively new director hold-up with the big wigs of Hollywood? Do read on...

The two lead of the film, Loki (Jake Gyllenhall) and Keller Rover (Hugh Jackman)

SYNOPSIS:
As a family of four visits a neighbourhood friend for Thanksgiving, they find their daughter go missing along with their neighbour's youngest daughter. Top detective named Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) is assigned to the case. Having had impressive credentials where all his previous cases are solved, he finds this a difficult one. The father of the missing daughter, Keller Rover (Hugh Jackman), is frustrated by Loki's failures and takes matters into his own hands. As both Keller and Loki set out to track the kidnapper, they discover many twists and turns in their quests.

The Rover family.

SCRIPT:
A thumbs up to unknown writer Aaron Guzikowski (who is he?) for coming up with an original idea for a film. It has a good solid structure and well written dialogue. It is not too complicated and easy to understand. There was well distribution of character developments in the main characters. Good suspense from scene to scene. It is well-thought of and managed become a crime-solving mystery story. The plot drew me to participate into guessing where the lead characters would go in achieving their quests.  At some points of the films, it felt like a 'maze' and invites the audience to solve the clues. A good surprise TWIST in the end.

Keller (Jackman) plotting his next move.

ACTING:
A very solid performance from the cast in particular the leads Jackman and Gyllenhaal. Both were immersed in their characters. You could see the conflict and struggle of their characters. Gyllenhaal's growth as an actor is evident here. Both Jackman and Gyllenhaal brought intense performance as required by their roles. Some of the supporting characters were drowned a little bit, however, this did not affect the movie.

Loki (Gyllenhaal) doing a door-to-door investigation

FILMING:
The storyline was straight forward and the direction was pretty much by the book (meaning no particular style of direction was prominent). Pay particular action to the cinematography which I feel was pretty well done. Deakins established a certain look, with blue/green colour tones, which gave the film a 'haunting' and 'scary' feel to it. And the look worked!

Melissa Leo and Paul Dano is supporting roles

PACING:
Slow and heavy drama but it didn't feel draggy. New story and revelations are unraveled throughout the film which made it interesting.

TONE (MOOD):
Darkness and sadness from having a missing child taken away from a family. Multiple intense arguments and cussing words.

Loki (Gyllenhaal) prevents Keller (Jackman) going on a vigilante mission

DOWNSIDE:
Long duration and slow pace might be a turn-off.

UPSIDE:
A solid and original script. Fine acting from the cast. Great cinematography.

(L-R): Viola Davis, Jake Gyllenhall, and Terrence Howard sharing a scene

OVERALL:
It is a suspense thriller of not the 'action' movie kind but the 'dramatic' kind. The movie deals with underlying themes relating to 'stress' and the audience 'feels' the stress.

RATING:
8.0 out of 10.