Review of Prisoners (2013) by Isadore H — 03 Oct 2016

Prisoners is a story about two little girls gone missing and the drama and story behind it. Hugh Jackman, Terrance Howard, and Jake Gyllenhaal are in this as well as Voila Davis and other talented actors and actresses.

First off let's talk about Jackman, the main character. OH MY GOD HES FUCKING AMAZING, seriously, I love x-men, but this might be his best performance and movie I've ever seen. Terrance Howard and Viola Davis, the other couple in the film with the missing daughter are both great here too.

I was really blown away by Jake Gyllenhaal, playing the head detective to solve this case about the girls. Paul Dano plays the role he plays in almost every film, but with a little something extra, which made his character even more compelling.

I could talk for hours about the acting, but all I can say now is that every character was extremely compelling and never bored me when I was watching. The camerawork and lighting are all impeccable as well, long drawn out shots are featured quite often, and it was a really good looking film.

The plot and script are both excellent, fueled by perfect direction and an enormous effort by the actors, it is fully realized as the dark and unsettling narrative it is meant to be. The movie pulled my in from very early on, and refused to let me go with a tightly written plot and the insane turns made not only by the plot but also the characters in the movie.

Each moment felt like time was evaporating from the characters hands and as they desperately did anything they could to find answers, I found out that maybe the good guys weren't all that different from the bad guys.

Fully realized characters through magnificent acting (espically by Jackman) made me feel and understand each decision they made, no matter how unsettling it was. This is a hard movie to watch, such like 12 Years a Slave, you don't really agree with what's happening, but the film is so damn good you can't look away from it.

In the end, Prisoners is in my opinion one of the best films ever made, it is extremely under viewed but those who have seen it have witnessed a masterpiece in film and hopefully appreciated if at least half as much as I do.