Movie review: 'Prisoners' is a thrilling drama

For weeks, I've written about my high hopes for Prisoners. I've told you that I love Hugh Jackman, that I love a juicy crime drama and that I really, really need a change after a summer full of big budget blockbusters that, in many cases, fell a bit flat for me overall.

Prisoners gave me everything I wanted and then some. Is it a perfect film? I ask this all the time before I write up my snap reviews, and no, it's not perfect (few films really are, I mean everyone can find something not to like if they look hard enough). But it does offer a hefty dose of nerve-jangling entertainment, wrapped up in what I think is a pretty heavy moral drama.

Prisoners is dark, methodical and downright uncomfortable, at least in parts. I normally don't like to spend a lot of time discussing a movie's plot in a review, but in this case, I feel it is necessary. Feel free to skip ahead if you're already familiar with the biggest story points.

In Prisoners, Hugh Jackman is Keller Dover: A gun-loving family man and a survivalist of sorts. He's prepared for anything, storing propane and canned goods in his basement in the event of...well...whatever. Dover, his wife, Gracie (Maria Bello), and their kids, Ralph and Anna, are enjoying a fairly typical Thanksgiving Day with their neighbors and best friends, Franklin and Nancy Birch (Terrence Howard and Viola Davis) and their two children, Eliza and Joy. Things take a terrible turn when Anna and Joy, ages 6 and 7, vanish shortly after the families have enjoyed their holiday meal.

Enter Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal and yes, that's really his character's name, and it's fitting): a cop on a mission to find the girls and the person or persons who took them. Keller Dover learns that a suspicious RV was in the neighborhood around the time the girls disappeared. Hours later, Loki finds that RV, driven by Alex Jones (the always brilliant Paul Dano). Jones is an intellectually challenged man who is ultimately cleared and released, because police can't find any evidence to hold him. That's not good enough for Keller Dover: He kidnaps Alex, convinced he knows what happened to Anna and Joy. He proceeds to try and torture what he thinks is the truth out of Alex - who is, for all intents and purposes, basically a child himself (at least mentally).

When I say Prisoners is uncomfortable to watch, I mean it: I spent a good two hours wrestling with my own moral compass, trying to decide how far I'd be willing to go if my own child was missing and I honestly believed I knew who was responsible. The fact that Prisoners had my mind racing with possibilities as I was watching it leads me to say that yes, it's a great drama, masterful even. I honestly can't say what I'd do if I was in Dover's position. I can't even wrap my brain around the horrible helplessness that a parent of an abducted child would feel. On some level, I understood why Dover chose the path of (graphic) violence. But then, on another level, part of me knows that this isn't the answer. Ugh, see? I'm still wrestling with this hours later.

Parents, I have to ask you: What would you do in Dover's position? How far would you be willing to go? I'd love to hear what you think in the comments, if you have time.

For me, the moral dilemma presented in Prisoners was the strongest part of the film, but I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention the outstanding acting performances, particularly by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. If you demand top-notch acting in your dramas, go see Prisoners now. You're welcome.

I mentioned earlier that Prisoners is an incredibly dark, bleak film. This isn't a feel-good movie at all. There are no tension-breaking jokes. The tension just builds and builds as the story unfolds, and I was amazed at the cinematography, in particular. Prisoners is beautifully shot and absolutely mesmerizingly dark. The mood remains bleak throughout, in part because of the way it's shot. When the film ended (after two and a half hours!) I realized we had to get out of the theater and get home quickly, so for once, I missed the end credits. I had to know who the Prisoners cinematographer was as soon as I could and lo and behold, it's the masterful Roger Deakins.

Strangely enough, I'd just had a discussion with a friend earlier in the day about favorite cinematographers and Roger Deakins' name came up more than once.  He's been nominated for a Best Cinematography Academy Award nine times  and he's not won once - despite his outstanding work on Skyfall, True Grit, The Shawshank Redemption, Fargo and O Brother, Where Art Thou? Someday I hope to see him standing on that stage, holding one of those beautiful Oscar statues and giving an acceptance speech. It has to happen.

Final judgment: Go see Prisoners. It's a solid drama, with enough twists and turns to satisfy mystery lovers, but be wary: it is tough to watch.

Photos courtesy of Rope of Silicon and Crave Online