"Someone has to make him talk or they're gonna die!" are the desperate words uttered by Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) in the new gritty abduction film Prisoners. He is referring to his young daughter Anna who has recently gone missing. His words are spoken in earnest to fellow friend and father Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard), whose daughter has also gone missing. Before the two men, sits a handcuffed man Alex Jones (Paul Dano), whom they believe is the predator who stole their daughters away from them. And with those words spoken, the movies moral rocket takes flight.
Prisoners is not so much a story about the abduction of two young girls as the abduction of our moral values when thrust into a similar circumstance. It begs the question, "what extremes would i go to for my child?" In doing so this is the first realistic approach the movie portrays, the parent factor. Parents portrayed in this film share the same sentiments of those in society, they would do anything for their children. And such is the case for Keller.
Keller is a loving husband and father, who works to raise his family properly, doing anything for the ones he loves. Him and his family have been invited to their neighbors, the Birch's, for a Thanksgiving feast. Everything seems typical and in line. The adults sectioned off laughing and drinking to the new holiday season, teenagers hanging with one another, and the young kids running about making as much noise as possible. As neighbors, and being in such proximity to one another, it seems reasonable that the two young girls Anna and Joy could make a trip back to the Dover's residence to play for a little while. With the distance between the two homes what could possibly go wrong?
This a question most parents probably wrestle with. The struggle between guarding the safety of their child and the ability to let them grow up and do things on their own. And sure enough, as the evening draws to a close, the two girls are nowhere to be found. A casual turned frantic search by the parents reveal nothing. Keller Dovers eldest son Ralph (Dylan Minnette) remembers there had been an RV parked earlier on the side of the road near the house and now is gone. Just like the girls.
The emotional toll this takes on the two families is excruciating. Minutes turn into hours and hours slowly tick by as the week passes. The police become involved and the case is assigned to a goth looking investigator, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal). He quickly delves into what appears to be a cut and dry case against a mentally challenged gentleman by the name of Alex Jones whom is caught driving the suspected RV. Unfortuantely there is no trace whatsoever of the girls in the RV nor do the police have any evidence to pin on the suspect and he is promptly released. Needless to say this does not sit well with the parents, especially Keller, who becomes enraged and decides to take matters into his own hands. He subsequently abducts Alex in hopes that he can force him to tell where his daughter is. When Alex says nothing Keller decides to use a more brutal tactic of extracting information.
Here lies the second realistic approach the movie offers. As Keller lays a brutal torture upon Alex, we see not the acts of revenge but pure desperation. Keller is willing to do anything to find his daughter even if it's at the cost of someone elses well being. Someone who may very well be innocent as mentioned by Joys father Franklin. As the brutal torture continues we begin to ask ourselves is this man really guilty? Are Keller's actions justified? Is the real suspect still at large?
Detective Loki believes so and decides to re open the investigation. But unlike Keller, he has a badge to back up his harsh actions against those who don't obey the law. And although he is a skilled investigator, he keeps coming up short for clues time and time again, throwing him into a depressed state and periodic temper flares. Regretably this is where the film lacks substance. Nowhere is there a reason, beyond occupation, that Detective Loki acts the way he does or what may be his motivations. We are given a subtle hint that he may have been a victim of abuse as a child, but the script never evolves this crucial part of the story.
Alas time begins to slip away and hope turns into mourning for the loss of the two young girls. And every character must individually come to terms that they may never see a resolve to the case.
Prisoners is an excellent, dark, well crafted film that will leave you questioning what you believe is right and just and how far you are willing to push your moral boundaries. Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Incendies) and written by Aaron Guzikowski (Contraband), Prisoners will have you hoping for the best and shaking your head at a few plot twists along the way. Hugh Jackman does a remarkable job as a desperate father who is pushed to his breaking point and the rest of the cast are able to hold their own. I encourage you to see this film with someone else if possible and to take in their reactions. Maybe they will quietly agree with Keller's side of things. Or perhaps not. Or maybe they will continue to wrestle with it, just like me.
Overall: B rating, Worth Seeing
Direction: A-
Script: C+
Acting: B-
Cinematography: B
Set Design: B
Here lies the second realistic approach the movie offers. As Keller lays a brutal torture upon Alex, we see not the acts of revenge but pure desperation. Keller is willing to do anything to find his daughter even if it's at the cost of someone elses well being. Someone who may very well be innocent as mentioned by Joys father Franklin. As the brutal torture continues we begin to ask ourselves is this man really guilty? Are Keller's actions justified? Is the real suspect still at large?
Detective Loki believes so and decides to re open the investigation. But unlike Keller, he has a badge to back up his harsh actions against those who don't obey the law. And although he is a skilled investigator, he keeps coming up short for clues time and time again, throwing him into a depressed state and periodic temper flares. Regretably this is where the film lacks substance. Nowhere is there a reason, beyond occupation, that Detective Loki acts the way he does or what may be his motivations. We are given a subtle hint that he may have been a victim of abuse as a child, but the script never evolves this crucial part of the story.
Alas time begins to slip away and hope turns into mourning for the loss of the two young girls. And every character must individually come to terms that they may never see a resolve to the case.
Prisoners is an excellent, dark, well crafted film that will leave you questioning what you believe is right and just and how far you are willing to push your moral boundaries. Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Incendies) and written by Aaron Guzikowski (Contraband), Prisoners will have you hoping for the best and shaking your head at a few plot twists along the way. Hugh Jackman does a remarkable job as a desperate father who is pushed to his breaking point and the rest of the cast are able to hold their own. I encourage you to see this film with someone else if possible and to take in their reactions. Maybe they will quietly agree with Keller's side of things. Or perhaps not. Or maybe they will continue to wrestle with it, just like me.
Overall: B rating, Worth Seeing
Direction: A-
Script: C+
Acting: B-
Cinematography: B
Set Design: B
