Prisoners [2013]
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Written by: Aaron Guzikowski
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo, Maria Bello
Sometimes just what you need to forget a bit about the stress of everyday life: work, money, conflicts, it’s the stress that great drama can put you under. Suffering along with Prisoners, I forgot about everything else but these families’ plight and afterwards, every annoyance in my life was tiny compared to the horror of losing a child, something these people went through in fiction but thousands of others live in the real world every single day.
I left the theater physically exhausted and trembling. And that’s from a movie. I am aware that these people are acting out lines from a script, and that beyond my line of sight there’s a really talented French guy telling them what to do and how. I mean, I know it’s fiction. But sometimes it’s hard to tell.
“Harrowing” is something Denis Villeneuve (Incendies) does so well, and his cast really helps him sell it. Though I was a bit disappointed by the women – Viola Davis is underused (even if that’s not really her fault), Melissa Leo is miscast and Maria Bello just wasn’t very good – the men exhibit some of the best acting work of the year and, in the case of Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman, their respective careers. This film put me through hell for 2 and a half hours (it could use a little trimming), but with Oscar-caliber acting and top-notch work from one of the finest directors in the business, Prisoners is one of the best movies of 2013 and one that will surely be a part of my year-end top ten.
Nice review Fernando. Pretty freaky flick if you think about it, but a very long one also. However, the cast was here to practically save the day.
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Thanks. Definitely agree. A bit long but with a cast like that, you don’t really mind.
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Still want to see this! Even more interested now that you’ve reviewed it, Fernando. Thanks.
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Thank YOU, Michael. Hope you see it soon. Definitely sticks with ya.
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Wow, great to see it struck a chord with you too man. I dug this a lot too, so stressful and emotional. I like how you said you were trembling after leaving the theater; it really made a big impression on me too. Hugh Jackman was simply magnificent here.
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He really was! Best work I’ve seen from him. Also loved Gyllenhaal. Glad we’re on the same page.
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Fernando, my friend. That is some very high praise! I haven’t brought myself to watch this yet, but your review is forcing my hand, so to speak lol. I think I haven’t watched it yet because, apart from Gylenhaal, I don’t very much enjoy the cast. Jackman wows me on occasion, and Dano is growing on me, but it doesn’t feel like this would strike me well.
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Give it a shot. I think you’d like it. Jackman and Gyllenhaal are superb.
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Good review.
Agreed that the women are underused, poorly developed or ineffective. I actually thought Melissa Leo’s performance equal to Jackman’s and Glyenhaal, but even she was under featured.
Beyond that I certainly had a less resoundingly positive experience than you did. No matter, though. I’m glad it resonated so much when you watched it.
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Thanks. Yeah. I haven’t heard from many people who loved it as much as I did. Maybe it was the length, I don’t know.
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Not so much the length for me. I like long movies. More the pacing. And the odd tonal shift halfway through when it went from character and theme based to plot based.
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I agree that the pacing was a bit off, but didn’t mind the “odd tonal shift”, actually.
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High praise Fernando. I keep hearing g positive things about this. I shall need to check it out.
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You should. One of the highlights of 2013 for me.
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Prisoners was wonderful. I got totally involved and didn’t notice it had been going for 2 hours. Except for this one guy in our theatre who kept getting up and walking out of the doors letting light in to check his phone then coming back in 5 seconds later 😡
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Ugh, I don’t know him and I hate him!, haha. But yeah, it’s a very immersive experience.
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WOW, such a glowing review! Makes me feel bad I haven’t seen this yet. I don’t know if suffering thru hell is my idea of entertainment ahah, but I hear ya about forgetting about your life’s problems as you’re so immersed in the story. Great review Fernando!
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Thanks, Ruth! Give it a try. I think it’s one of the highlights of the year, even if it does torture you a little bit.
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The movie kind of dragged before the ending. Why did this simple tale have to be over 2 ½ hours long? But overall I enjoyed this quite a bit. I was really impressed with Jake Gyllenhaal actually. He was pretty incredible in last year’s End of Watch too.
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Yeah, it definitely could’ve used some trimming, but I didn’t mind a lot in the end. Agree on Gyllenhaal beaing impressive.
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