Part harrowing and morally ambiguous drama, part gripping police procedural, Prisoners is a tough drama that explores the evil that men can do and the corruption of innocence. Prisoners is one of the bleakest, most unsettling and chilling crime dramas since the nihilistic Seven took us into the heart of darkness of an evil and twisted villain. It’s measured pace and attention to the forensic detail of a police investigation is also reminiscent of David Fincher’s Zodiac. The film is set in a small God fearing community with dark secrets hidden behind the white picket fences, and this setting becomes quite sinister. The dreary, rainswept location adds another layer to this gripping drama, which is also one of the films of the year so far. This a thought provoking film, that deals with themes of guilt, crime, punishment, vigilantism, and the debilitating effects of violence. The subtext deals with the morality of America following 9/11 and its damaged psyche, and it also questions the efficacy of torture as a means of extracting vital information. The film is full of overt religious symbolism, some intensely harrowing scenes, and is permeated with a palpable air of foreboding. Roger Deakin’s striking and suitably gloomy cinematography enhances the unrelentingly bleak, dark tone of the material. Hugh Jackman is cast against type here, and he goes to dark places he has rarely gone on screen before, and brings a real edgy quality to his performance. He is tapping into his darker more aggressive side as a man who is desperate to protect his family and find his kidnapped daughter. Although Jackman has the showier role, Jake Gyllenhaal also does some of his best work here with an understated performance as the introspective and soft-spoken detective in charge of the investigation. Prisoners is the first American film from French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, who gave us the powerful Incendies, which also dealt with the impact of violence on families. And although this is a Hollywood film, Villeneuve imbues it with a distinctly European look and feel and with a nice moral ambiguity. For nearly 150 minutes, Villeneuve puts the audience through the wringer, both physically and emotionally.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 05:31:48 +0000
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