[Review: IN THEATRES] PRISONERS (8/10)

Prisoners walks a fine line: on one hand it’s a handsomely directed thriller that cares more about character development than big action set pieces. It offers one action sequence towards the end, in the snow, so well done and thrilling that it alone makes for a satisfying twist. The film is written by Aaron Guzikowski has a few required twists, turns and surprises. In its late third and forth act it feels like a little bit of a tug-of-war, throwing in a few dark surprises that feel a wee bit out of place with the first and second acts. The film is otherwise, mostly, masterfully constructed by Denis Villeneuve, who tacks the subject of violence with the fine (often emotional) detail that no doubt served him well in his past career as an entomologist. He previously directed the Oscar-nominated Incendies, along with Polytechnique and Maelstrom. 

His first Hollywood effort is anything but Hollywood. It opens simple enough – two families share Christmas dinner – the Dovers (Hugh Jackman and Maria Bello) and the Birchs (Terrence Howard and Viola Davis). Their two young daughters go missing and after they try their best to locate them, Detective Loki is called in (Jake Gyllenhaal). The police hold the only suspect in the case, Alex Jones (Paul Dano) who is mentally challenged but able to drive a beat-up, very creepy camper. When Jones is released and quells something ominous to Keller Dover (Jackman), Keller takes the law into his own hands, holding Jones hostage.

And here’s where the film engages in a tug-of-war with itself: skillfully crafted with a brain in its head the film s more and more violent until its final twists. While the trailer gives away the story up until the point when it starts to grow darker there’s an awful lot of interesting material here. Running just over 2 ½ hours the film is constantly engaging full of white-knuckle moments and top-notch performances by Jackman, Dano and Gyllenhaal. While the story gives us a few, shall we say, rabbit holes to fall into the efficient thriller features a decent amount of pay off – trust the audience is smart enough to follow the film Villeneuve often cuts around the big hero moments, remaining in full control.

Another star of the film is Roger Deakins’ beautiful cinematography, which is perfectly matched with Villeneuve’s direction. Prisoners is mostly a satisfying experience with several really great scenes. Some moments don’t quite work as well, but then again most films aren’t this skillful.

Screening: Dipson Market Arcade, Dipson Flix, Regal Transit, Regal Quaker Crossing, Regal Hollywood 12, AMC Maple Ridge, Transit Drive In, Regal Elmwood