PRISONERS - FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 20^th September 2013

Age Certificate: 15

Running Time: 153 mins

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Writer: Aaron Guzikowski

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis

Prisoners is gripping, fascinating, exciting, electrifying and any other positive words capable of fitting into a sentence. 

When Keller Dover’s daughter and her friends go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family? 

Prisoners is directed by Denis Villeneuve who bought us the highly acclaimed foreign film, Incendies. Incendies was disturbing in many ways and so is Prisoners. The only difference is that this film wasn’t written by Villeneuve; instead he just chose a disconcerting tale of events. In terms of his directing style, it is clean and well shot. Even in the most difficult times of the film he makes us care for the characters, this compliment should also be given to Aaron Guzikowski, the writer. I’m definitely looking forward to Villeneuve’s next film, also starring Jake Gyllenhaal, if it is anything to go by it should be another content viewing. 

The acting in the film also contributes to the overall fantastic finish. This has to be one of Hugh Jackman’s best performances on the big screen. Furthermore, Gyllenhaal’s character is incredibly believable, and even though he is supposed to be a tough cop you still feel for him. It’s a good thing before he started filming The End of Watch he did police training, it helped for his role for sure. Another actor I would like to discuss is Paul Dano, he plays a young man, who is described in the film as ‘the brain of a ten year old’. I sometimes feel that Dano tries to over act his roles but in this film he seemed to calm down a bit and become a more mature actor which was defiantly evident. 

The story is gripping and should be watched by a vast audience. Prisoners is nearly two and a half hours long, but funny enough it seems to skip by. The directing, writing and acting are all superb. Oh, and I almost forgot, the editing is also top class, it keeps up the pace and when you think there is going to be a long conversation which isn’t neede. Perhaps without the great editing it wouldn’t have glued you to the seat as much. 

Prisoners is one of the best films this year. 

8.0/10

The Prestige Review

Release Date: 10 November 2006

Age Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 130 mins

Director: Christopher Nolan

Writers: Christopher Nolan

Stars: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson

Review:

Six years after Memento was released Christopher Nolan returned with another amazing physiological thriller. It starts head to head magicians set in the 20^th Century, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, they compete against each other to try and one up each other in rival magic shows. Michael Caine, David Bowie and Scarlett Johansson round up this fantastic cast; there are no weak links in this film regards to acting. The head to head magician’s story takes a turn for the worst, they seek revenge, trickery and apparently murder. That is how you keep the audience interested.

Christopher Nolan’s script is tight and keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats. It really asks for the viewer to ‘watch closely’, as Michael Caine may say. The magnificence is also followed by the dialogue and sequences. This is a film which cannot be easily explained, you will have to watch it over and over again to get a real grip on this story.

The Prestige’s moral is that everybody believes they have to be the better man, no matter what the costs shall be. The final twists in the ending scenes left me gob smacked and demanding for an explanation from Nolan himself.  This film must be experienced first hand, if you have not laid your eyes on this motion picture, go out right now and buy.

9.7/10

Here's the trailer: