Movie Review: "Prisoners" Is A Gripping Thriller In The Tradition Of "Mystic River", "Zodiac", and "Gone Baby Gone".

Prisoners

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Maria Bello, and
         Melissa Leo.
Rated R for disturbing violent content including torture, and language throughout.

The summer movie season is meant for kids and/or the kids in all of us. The fall movie season is strictly for adults, and it usually produces many award contenders. Well, this "award" season kicks off with a thunderous bang with the release of Prisoners. This chilling thriller should be recognized as one of the best pictures of the year with fantastic performances from its ensemble cast.


It's a normal Thanksgiving Day in middle-class America when the daughters of two neighbors go missing, presumably kidnapped. Hugh Jackman plays Keller Dover, an average carpenter who loves his family when his world is turned upside down when his daughter is kidnapped while playing with the daughter of Franklin Birch, played by Terrence Howard. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Detective Loki who is assigned to the case. Loki arrests the primary suspect, Alex (Paul Dano), on the very night the girls go missing. After Alex is interrogated and no evidence is found that links him to the girls' disappearance, Loki must reluctantly release him with no charges filed. This does not sit well with Dover, who is convinced that Alex is heavily involved in his daughter's kidnapping. While Dover decides to take matters into his own hands, Detective Loki keeps investigating and trying to unravel the mystery of what happened to these little girls.

The subject matter here is terrifying, especially for any parent, particularly any parent of small children. This film is chill-inducing, given the situations these characters find themselves in. Hugh Jackman is a powerhouse here and is as convincing as ever. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a quieter and more subtle performance, but it is equally effective. He is quickly rising as one of my favorite actors. Like the thrillers Mystic River, Zodiac, and Gone Baby Gone, this film keeps you guessing and riveted until the very last frame. Its only weakness is, perhaps, its lengthy runtime of 150 minutes. Yet, Prisoners is a hauntingly filmed and brilliantly acted crime drama.

RATING: A