Greetings, all! I'm the Man without a Plan, back again with another movie review. This time I'll be taking a look at "Prisoners", a thrilling drama that brings captivating performances and strong suspense, drawing influence from noir and horror. This movie kept me on the edge of my seat, enthralling me from beginning to end.
The movie stars Hugh Jackman as Keller Dover, a prudent father whose six-year-old daughter, Ana, is kidnapped on Thanksgiving. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Detective Loki, the officer assigned to their case. He remains professional, trying to solve the case as quickly as possible while keeping Keller calm and patient, but when the only suspect is released, Keller grows furious, taking matters into his own hands. The lines between justice and vengeance blur and twist in the search to find Ana and bring her home safely.
Jackman is a tour de force. His portrayal is equally menacing and sympathetic; his resolve to do whatever's necessary to find Ana inspires and terrifies. For a man whose strength is the ability to prepare for everything, this situation catches him off guard, leaving him desperate and weak. His reactions are rushed, instinctive, even primal to an extent. All the while, however, he prays constantly, trying to keep his faith, struggling between his desperate rage and faithful righteousness. Jackman's portrayal of this conflict drives the movie; when he's on screen, he draws every bit of attention with his intensity and drive.
Jake Gyllenhaal also does well playing Detective Loki. He and Keller are a study in contrast: while Keller is desperate and willing to cross whatever line to find his daughter, Loki is more controlled and objective. That's not to say he's immune to emotion; he's aware of how much time he has, poring through any lead for even a shred of information. He'll go above the call of duty (and his boss's orders), but Loki has better-set boundaries for what can be allowed in order to find the truth, serving as a strong foil for Keller. Gyllenhaal does a great job leading the way through each step of the mystery, intriguing with his dedication and fervor.
"Prisoners" has quite the running time: at two hours and 33 minutes, it approaches "Lord Of The Rings" territory, but in no way is this time wasted. The movie gives enough detail and time to balance Keller and Loki's stories while letting each character have their moments to pause, breathe, and reflect on how the situation affects them. I never felt the movie was hurrying exposition and details; it flowed at a good pace. The film never felt long, the porridge was just right.
The length also helped in building suspense. Unlike many movies (mainly horror), which break up the tension with false payoffs or jump scares, "Prisoners" takes time in its setups. The scenes moved steady, and the longer they went on, the quieter the theater got, the tighter my chest clenched. The payoffs were unpredictable, complimenting the nature of our main leads well. Some reveals which I originally bemoaned worked later in the big scheme of keeping me on my toes, not knowing exactly what to expect. It worked effectively, throwing me for loops with every twist and turn.
Of course, suspense isn't only built by drawing out time: the cinematography helped out. Some scenes hearkened back to horror films, where the shots would be composed to draw one's eye to a specific point, whether one wanted to or not. The camera got intimate without feeling too claustrophobic (I'm looking at you, "Getaway"), expressed discomfort without turning annoying, and was framed well when used to slow a reveal down to build tension.
To sum it all up, "Prisoners" is excellent. Its strong characters, nerve-wracking suspense, and intelligent story meld near-flawlessly. It questions the line between justice and vengeance, tests the breaking point of man's faith, and creates an exhilarating mystery. I'd definitely recommend you check this out. I'm the Man without a Plan, and thanks for reading.
"Prisoners" trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfRckdHq--c
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