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I know plenty of people who’ll be gaga for “Prisoners,” and you do, too. There’s a faction of moviegoers who love their thrillers ultra-twisty and their big-name actors acting with to-the-limit intensity. That’s all fine and good — people like what they like.
And “Prisoners” boasts the benefit of having been shot by Roger Deakins, one of the finest cinematographers in history, who lends the film invaluable detail and polish, and scenes of almost inexplicably gorgeous urgency (with blood from a head wound seeping into his eye, one character’s rough navigation through the lights of a rain-soaked highway is a virtuoso sequence).
But beyond an “aw, snap!” kick in the tail, which results from a clue-laden, but only mildly involving, braid of tricky plot lines, there’s not much to take away from this film—nothing of great substance or thought-provoking thematic value. It may seem complicated on the surface: Two suburban couples, Keller and Grace Dover (Hugh Jackman and Maria Bello), and Franklin and Nancy Birch (Terrence Howard and Viola Davis), suffer the horror of their respective daughters’ sudden disappearances, and when cops like Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) don’t provide speedy results, Keller, in particular, takes the law into his own hands.
The instantaneous ethical conflict of such an action — to be specific, Keller kidnaps and tortures key suspect Alex Jones (Paul Dano) — is one parents and non-parents alike can find intriguingly controversial. But “Prisoners,” directed by Denis Villeneuve, doesn’t explore the controversy much further than what’s stated in the synopsis, proving more interested in the shallow convolution of Aaron Guzikowski’s script.
Granted, there are ample curious hooks to keep you interested, and the acting, though overcooked, is still frequently impressive, especially thanks to Jackman and Howard. Ultimately, though, the film is little more than a puffed-up, star-studded, competent crime thriller, whose glaring typecasting points to its limited perspective (Bello, Dano, and Melissa Leo get thankless roles they could play in their sleep). If you find yourself unable to grasp the moral of the story, that’s because there isn’t one.
Prisoners
R
Two reels out of four
Now playing at area theaters
Recommended Rental
The Wizard of Oz
PG
Available Tuesday
If you’re not prepared to shell out the dough for the recent theatrical re-release of “The Wizard of Oz,” screening in Imax 3-D, perhaps you’ll be more inclined to add its special edition Blu-ray to your library or Netflix queue. Timed, like the film’s new theatrical run, to the fantasy classic’s 75th anniversary, this new cut of everyone’s favorite over-the-rainbow adventure promises a pristine transfer, with redder ruby slippers and yellower Yellow Brick Roads than you’ve ever seen before.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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