Prisoners (2013)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola DavisRuntime: 153 minutes
Synopsis: When Keller Dover's daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts.
Performances: 10/10
Screenplay: 9/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Screenplay: 9/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Verdict: Before they gave us "Sicario", Villeneuve, Deakins, and Jóhannsson worked together to gift us arguably the Canadian director's best project to date, or at least my personal favorite. "Prisoners" marks Villeneuve's debut in the big leagues, where he has gone to become a household name in next to no time.
The movie opens on Thanksgiving dinner, where the Dover and Birch families are sharing laughs together at the latter's house. That is until they notice that their daughters, who went out without any supervision, disappeared without a trace. Then ensues a roller-coaster of emotions as Keller Dover, portrayed by Hugh Jackman who gives one of his best performances of his entire career, blinded by rage and pain, decides to lead an investigation of his own, separate from Detective Loki's, played by an as always great Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie, in which the tension is beautifully captured through its dark but gorgeous cinematography and score, becomes much more than a thrilling mystery surrounding the disappearance of two small girls, but also a battle between the father, who let his emotions take the best of him and becomes prepared to do anything to find his daughter, and the police, who have to abide by the law and use their brains to progress with the investigation.
"Prisoners" is the kind of film that will stay engraved forever in your memory, whether you enjoyed it or not. It's a masterfully executed, enthralling thriller that is reminiscent of David Fincher's best work. I have absolutely no problem calling it a masterpiece and one of the best movies of the entire decade, because it sure as hell deserves it. A must for fans of the genre.
The movie opens on Thanksgiving dinner, where the Dover and Birch families are sharing laughs together at the latter's house. That is until they notice that their daughters, who went out without any supervision, disappeared without a trace. Then ensues a roller-coaster of emotions as Keller Dover, portrayed by Hugh Jackman who gives one of his best performances of his entire career, blinded by rage and pain, decides to lead an investigation of his own, separate from Detective Loki's, played by an as always great Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie, in which the tension is beautifully captured through its dark but gorgeous cinematography and score, becomes much more than a thrilling mystery surrounding the disappearance of two small girls, but also a battle between the father, who let his emotions take the best of him and becomes prepared to do anything to find his daughter, and the police, who have to abide by the law and use their brains to progress with the investigation.
"Prisoners" is the kind of film that will stay engraved forever in your memory, whether you enjoyed it or not. It's a masterfully executed, enthralling thriller that is reminiscent of David Fincher's best work. I have absolutely no problem calling it a masterpiece and one of the best movies of the entire decade, because it sure as hell deserves it. A must for fans of the genre.
FINAL GRADE: 10/10
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