Prisoners

9

strawhashiraJan 19, 2022

A 150 min richly directed suspense-fest with an unprecedented emotional and psychological focus towards the effectively built up characters.

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9

DM29xDec 9, 2021

One of my favourite ever, pretty goated to be honest, hugh jackman and jake gyllenhall are great in it

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9

SilarMaldonJan 30, 2022

Nearly perfect. So devastating and amazing that you almost forget Jake Gyllenhaal is in it. The best film of 2010-2020.

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9

EDOGGYTHEMOVIEMay 16, 2022

This movie is really good. this movie is really good. This movie is really good.

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8

BKMOct 23, 2013

Despite trailers that made it appear to be a standard revenge film along the lines of Taken or any number of Harrison Ford flicks, Prisoners actually has a lot more in common with Mystic River. That is to say that it is a dark, morallyDespite trailers that made it appear to be a standard revenge film along the lines of Taken or any number of Harrison Ford flicks, Prisoners actually has a lot more in common with Mystic River. That is to say that it is a dark, morally complex thriller about men whose need to protect their families leads them to dark places. I'm not sure that all of the plot twists add up, but the film is completely absorbing and delivers an ending that is poetic justice at its finest.… Expand

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8

jeremypSep 23, 2013

It's a long movie but an engrossing one. The first half of the movie seems to be a metaphor for Guantanamo. Impotent rage leads to torture and possibly justice but definitely injustice. And at what cost? Scattered clues lead, if readIt's a long movie but an engrossing one. The first half of the movie seems to be a metaphor for Guantanamo. Impotent rage leads to torture and possibly justice but definitely injustice. And at what cost? Scattered clues lead, if read correctly, to the inevitable truth about the kidnapping of the girls, but leave open to interpretation the moral paths taken and the outcome of a major protagonist. The audience is manipulated hither, thither, and yon, and it's all great fun if you stay objective and quite teeth grinding if you don't. The Director borrows heavily from many sources-these days who doesn't, and who can't-and it's quite a Pot Pourri of memory lane goodies. The last shot seems to be leaving us with an open ended question: "You decide!"
Jackman is great as a very loose cannon (Wolverine was a warmup?). Gyllenhall is all ticks and props and gimmicks. Dano is paid well for a mute, and Maria Bello is oh so wasted.

Of course.................SPOILER................. there is one actor who is in this for an oh so obvious reason.… Expand

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8

canhenhaSep 30, 2013

Denis Villeneuve has a keen eye for the dynamics of every day life he perfectly captures the lives of the families who are hit by this tragedy. In a matter of the first minutes of the film, we quickly realize who these people are. TheirDenis Villeneuve has a keen eye for the dynamics of every day life he perfectly captures the lives of the families who are hit by this tragedy. In a matter of the first minutes of the film, we quickly realize who these people are. Their grief stricken despair is the more real, since the film never goes for a sensationalistic approach. There's a certain hint of Dennis Lehane's novels in the screenplay, but the characters are deftly presented, and the suspense is built progressively. The atmosphere that is built is certainly oppressive and bleak, but the film is elevated by the fantastic cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo and Paul Dano, all deliver more than impeccable performances. A great film worth watching.… Expand

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8

BikerjamesOct 7, 2013

Although I felt somewhat manipulated while watching, Prisoners was admittedly mesmerizing. When the film ends you might be scratching your head and asking what certain people or events had to do with the plot. I know I have severalAlthough I felt somewhat manipulated while watching, Prisoners was admittedly mesmerizing. When the film ends you might be scratching your head and asking what certain people or events had to do with the plot. I know I have several unanswered questions. Still, this film was about 2 1/2 hours and I never looked at my watch. I thought the acting was superb across the board, and the pacing excellent. Good film to watch during Halloween time because it is creepy for sure.… Expand

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8

JalemanyJan 3, 2021

Fantastically shot and directed. Exciting and filled with important moral questions. Villeneuve is a very talented director, as he has repeatedly shown, and the cast of Prisoners is a good match of talent.

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8

TyranianApr 15, 2020

Excellent thriller-drama film with great story, acting and visual strength.

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8

lasttimeisawDec 19, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One more Hollywood recruiter of foreign talents, Canadian Villeneuve (from INCENDIES 2010) submits his Tinseltown debut with a dark drama about a child abduction, congregated by a swathe of bankable thespians and a virtuoso DP Roger Deakins, it was a considerable success both in box office and among critics, although its Oscar prospect will not likely pan out.

PRISONERS conventionally chronicles the appalling case with thorough stoicism to supply enormous stretches to the key performers, Jackson and Gyllenhaal are the two leading players, one is a dogged father believes in his own judgment and is pressured to take extreme measures to fish out information of his missing daughter; another is an idiosyncratic cop has to probe into a sordid scenario while his own backstory remains veiled. Through all these years Gyllenhaal has honed up his screen personality substantially and his quirky foibles (the compulsive blinking here) make him more human while Jackman is a tad over-the-top with a more straightforward character development.

Bello, as the flip side of Jackson, her post-trauma symptom is being fully destroyed, cannot function anymore, a devastating mother is a piece of cake for her; Howard and Davis pair stand for a more neutral ethnic line here, which one can relate to oneself under the context, but their shortcomings are as glaring as they are ubiquitous. Dano, who takes us aback with another ambivalent career-turn, his make-up in the torture scenes is too surreal for general viewers, theoretically we should feel sympathetic for him, but somehow he manages to diminish this feeling with his look of opaqueness, is he a real retarded victim or a lackey enjoys the gore? It is a moot point where lingers great aftertaste. We cannot leave Melissa Leo behind here since she is the hidden culprit, her reasons for killing aside, her performance does enhance the story’s credibility, and although her downfall is ordained, her encounter with Jackson in the ultimate confrontation is gold and only she can emotionally overpower and cramp Wolverine into his redemption into the darkness.

Villeneuve proves wonderfully he is a dab hand can handle challenging projects like this, the whole production team is top-notch, Deakins’ camera irradiates specifically in the car sequences near the end, alongside the cutthroat editing, a subdued iridescence can never be more ravishing and what’s more praiseworthy is that it thrusts the narrative into its ultimacy with utter urgency and dazzlement.

PRISONERS sits comfily into my top 10 year-list, PICTURE, DIRECTOR, LEADING ACTOR (2 spots), SUPPORTING ACTOR and SUPPORTING ACTRESS, for my no-gut-no-glory Oscar prediction, I sincerely hope Deakins can sneak in, alas, even so, he is no chance of winning over GRAVITY (2013, 9/10).… Expand

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8

beingryanjudeSep 1, 2014

With several incredibly strong performances and beautiful direction, this film reaches every aspect of our emotions. It is not often that a film of this measure can hold our suspense, but this one does.

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8

wvmoviefanNov 4, 2013

What a ride exhausting and just when you think you have it all figured out, The performances are excellent with Jackman and Gyllenhaal great foils for each other. The only character that's poorly written is Terence Howard as the youngWhat a ride exhausting and just when you think you have it all figured out, The performances are excellent with Jackman and Gyllenhaal great foils for each other. The only character that's poorly written is Terence Howard as the young Birch girl's father and the problem is that he's drawn as one-dimensional, the sensitive man who cares. This is definitely a dark, violent journey and reflects perfectly the horror that enters every parents' head at just the thought of a missing child.… Expand

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8

SpangleSep 28, 2013

Really good film. The acting, especially by Jackman and Gyllenhaal, was really good and believable. In addition, the directing did an outstanding job creating the mood. You felt sad when you were supposed to feel sad and you felt scared whenReally good film. The acting, especially by Jackman and Gyllenhaal, was really good and believable. In addition, the directing did an outstanding job creating the mood. You felt sad when you were supposed to feel sad and you felt scared when you were supposed to feel scared, etc. Overall, a really tense and dark film that is quite successful all-around.… Expand

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8

poetreviewerSep 29, 2013

Overall the movie is suspenseful and well-acted. The plot has some holes, but so what? Entertaining, albeit a tad predictable. Hugh Jackman is very believable in his role.

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8

catcarloNov 19, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Una piccola e sonnacchiosa comunità in mezzo ai boschi viene messa sottosopra dalla sparizione di due bambine. Il primo sospettato, Alex, ha un’età mentale attorno ai dieci anni e non sarebbe capace di organizzare un rapimento, almeno da solo: il poliziotto incaricato delle indagini, l’ispettore Loki (sì, proprio come il fratello di Thor), lo lascia andare e inizia una paziente indagine partendo quasi dal nulla. Keller Dover, il padre di una delle due bimbe, si autoconvince però che Alex (il cui aspetto, in effetti, inquieta un po’) sia in qualche modo colpevole, lo sequestra e non si ferma davanti a nulla per cercare di farlo parlare. Le traiettorie dei due viaggiano quasi in parallelo fino alla fine, dove, seppure in modo involontario, Dover finisce per aiutare Loki a squarciare l’ultimo velo: nel frattempo, l’ispettore ha ribaltato il classico sasso che nascondeva un verminaio, scoprendo che il paesino, oltre che sonnacchioso, pure un po’ omertoso e comunque incapace di vedere, o ammettere, le brutture che vivono sotto la superficie. Se Dover rappresenta la violenza che cova all’ombra delle maschere che destano meno sospetti, nelle cantine delle linde casette immerse nel verde sono occultati segreti che pare impossibile che vengano ignorati e il tutto ruota intorno a una religiosità opprimente capace di scatenare demoni incontrollabili: oltre alle patologie psichiatriche, il risultato un inquietante deserto dei sentimenti compresi i genitori delle bambine che, in un modo o nell’altro, si chiudono in se stessi senza riuscire ad aiutarsi a vicenda che mette in seria discussione l’idea di piccola comunità solidale. Insomma, c’è del marcio in Pennsylvania (ovvero, più genericamente, nella provincia americana) e a testimoniarlo ecco allora tutta una serie di simboli, a volte forse troppo evidenti, a partire dal sacrificio di un innocente cervo già nella prima scena per arrivare ai serpenti striscianti qua e là: uno sguardo critico non certo nuovo ma che non intacca l’essenza del film, anzi contribuisce ad aggiungere ulteriore efficacia a una storia ben scritta e ancor meglio filmata capace di appassionare dall’inizio alla fine malgrado le oltre due ore e mezza di durata complessiva. Unendo una tensione di stampo con sensazioni opprimenti da ‘Il silenzio degli innocenti’ (tanto per citare un titolo), Villeneuve, assieme allo sceneggiatore Aaron Guzikowski, trova il ritmo adatto per costruire le giuste atmosfere per il genere, oltretutto alle prese con un argomento non facile come sempre quando vengono coinvolti i più piccoli: ne esce una solida struttura filmica immersa in una luce fredda e ormai invernale ben fotografata da Roger Deakins tra uno scroscio di pioggia e una spruzzata di neve (l’azione si svolge nella settimana successiva al Ringraziamento). Il regista canadese sceglie uno stile essenziale, con la macchina da presa che si muove solo quando necessario concentrandosi spesso sui volti dei personaggi, nel segno di una netta preferenza per l’evoluzione psicologica rispetto all’azione (anche se sarà difficile dimenticare l’impatto emotivo della corsa notturna in macchina di Loki per salvare la piccola Anna): Importante anche il contributo del cast che si distingue per interpretazioni tutte di ottimo livello: le due mamme addolorate Viola Davis e Maria Bello (che forse avrebbero meritato maggiore spazio), l’altra madre Melissa Leo anche al netto di qualche gigionismo di troppo e, soprattutto, i due attori impegnati nei ruoli principali. L’australiano Hugh Jackman presta il volto a un personaggio complesso come Dover sottolineandone le ambiguità, perché, se vero che non siamo di fronte a un giustiziere della notte, indiscutibile che dietro alla figura tutta segheria e famiglia già si agitasse qualche fantasma ‘prega per il meglio, ma preparati al peggio’ che poi esplode portandolo oltre qualsiasi limite dell’accettabile anche considerando la sua dolorosa condizione. Di fronte a lui, ci sono i dubbi e la determinazione di Loki, ennesima figura di poliziotto amareggiato dal mestiere che pure, tra errori e incertezze, giunge a una soluzione che non serve certo a rasserenarne l’animo: nei suoi panni, tra misteriosi tatuaggi e un insistito tic agli occhi, Jake Gyllenhaal dà vita a una prova davvero notevole che finisce per farlo preferire, seppur di un nonnulla, ai suoi compagni di avventura.… Expand

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8

foxgroveSep 29, 2013

After about 20 minutes Prisoners begins to feel like it is going to be another paint by numbers, seen it all before kidnap drama. However, the longer it goes on (and it is a long watch) the better it gets. Subsequent twists, turns and genuineAfter about 20 minutes Prisoners begins to feel like it is going to be another paint by numbers, seen it all before kidnap drama. However, the longer it goes on (and it is a long watch) the better it gets. Subsequent twists, turns and genuine surprises of the extremely well constructed screenplay enables the movie to finally find its footing. The end result is a superior mystery thriller, even though a few questions do remain unanswered. The performances contribute a great deal. There is no denying that Hugh Jackman is very good here but he is playing a rather dislike able character, even given the circumstances. His frequent rants tend to dissolve into monotone. Jake Gyllenhaal is much better as the cop. With his constant eye tics and suspicious nature he is the true heart of what makes prisoners ultimately as good as it is. One constant irritation though, was the implausible fact that whenever he needed it no back up or help was anywhere to be seen. Perfection, as they say, is in the detail.… Expand

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8

SimpleMethodOct 22, 2013

Prisoners is a good, but extremely depressing movie about child abduction. It's a little too long, but Hugh Jackman gives the performance of his career and Jake Gylenhaal was good. Solid movie.

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8

python2000Jan 3, 2014

Literally just finished watching this and my heart is still racing. Jesus Christ this movie is tense.
Hugh Jackman plays the father of one of two children abducted on Thanksgiving, I think that this year it's between him and Tom Hanks forLiterally just finished watching this and my heart is still racing. Jesus Christ this movie is tense.
Hugh Jackman plays the father of one of two children abducted on Thanksgiving, I think that this year it's between him and Tom Hanks for Best Actor. With the exception of Jake Gyllenhaal as Detective Loki (Best Supporting Actor 2013), the cast is reasonably unknown. That doesn't mean that they don't all do a brilliant. But there is one performance in the movie, by an actor who before watching this was unknown to me, which is amazing. Paul Dano as Alex Jones. Give that man an Oscar. No give him a new type of award which is better than an Oscar. A award or something. He plays a strange, creepy alleged pedofile who is the supposed culprit behind the kidnapping of the two girls. The one word which comes to mind when I think of his character is slimy. He's a mix of Hannibal Lecter, Gollum and the late Michael Jackson. Super creepy! I would watch the 150 minute movie all over again just for his performance. Best actor in the whole film, he totally compensates for the plot hole riddled script and some boring scenes. Much like the recent movies Captain Phillips, Argo and Zero Dark Thirty one of my favourite things about Prisoners is that it stays realistic the whole way through and does not exaggerate action scenes or the climax. This is probably why it gets slow moving and quite boring in the middle, but it's still riveting stuff overall. I am not the type of movie reviewer who pays attention to the score, however, from what I have heard it was extremely effective at building up tension and always fit the scenes it was being played too. Finally the ending is extremely hard to understand. Once I had checked that I was right on Wikipedia it made sense. But as the credits started to roll, I asked myself the question: "What the just happened"?
Overall Prisoners is a hugely enjoyable movie. Sure it has plot holes the size of small villages and the ending isn't very easy to interpret. But those things are redeemed by Hugh Jackman's brilliant lead and Paul Dano's chilling, shiver inducing performance as the alleged pedofile who can best be described with the word: slimy. Ridiculously tense and very intelligent Prisoners is undoubtedly worth a watch.… Expand

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8

sanyrubApr 14, 2014

I give it a 8.5 out of 10. The film is tense, the cinematography is outstanding, the pace is perfect to the point I can say the two hours and a half fly like it´s nothing, enjoyable from beginning to end, unpredictable when it comes to theI give it a 8.5 out of 10. The film is tense, the cinematography is outstanding, the pace is perfect to the point I can say the two hours and a half fly like it´s nothing, enjoyable from beginning to end, unpredictable when it comes to the fate of the characters, you are invested the whole time, you care about it, the acting is on point and pretty much perfect from absolutely everyone in the film, and I mean it, everybody and many more good things. The only thing I could say against it is that it definitely is not an innovative film, we have seen this type of story many times before. That´s why I´m not giving it my strong 9 out of 10, which is like the biggest score I usually give a film. But so damn good. In my top 10 films of 2013.… Expand

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8

bm2759Jan 15, 2014

I was rather impressed with this film. It kept me interested all the way to the end with the extra element of mystery, which challenges the viewer to make sense of everything. The acting by all major characters was great particularly HughI was rather impressed with this film. It kept me interested all the way to the end with the extra element of mystery, which challenges the viewer to make sense of everything. The acting by all major characters was great particularly Hugh Jackman showing fear and rage at the same time. It's been a while since I seen a film like this.

The writers of this film definitely succeeded in creating a story that is cryptic and compelling. At the end I thought back over the film to see how objects, people, and other things were connected to what occurred. I didn't even understand why and how things occurred or were connected which created a lot of discussion afterwards. My partner and I shared our thoughts of what we understood; it took both of us to make sense of it all. Good writing and that correct application of it certain shows when it takes two educated people to understand everything.

This film also made me think about justice and what I would do: is the law always correct? Should we take the law into our own hands? Are laws too black and white? Whether intended or not this opens a dialogue about right and wrong, trusting police, and rational thinking.… Expand

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8

NBAluke579Jan 2, 2014

Prisoners is one of the most thrilling films of 2013. A thrilling,dark film that deals with the subject of child kidnapping. The movie has an incredible atmosphere, and Roger Deakin's gorgeous cinematography helps set a haunting,bleak moodPrisoners is one of the most thrilling films of 2013. A thrilling,dark film that deals with the subject of child kidnapping. The movie has an incredible atmosphere, and Roger Deakin's gorgeous cinematography helps set a haunting,bleak mood that permeates throughout the entire film. Rain is always falling, snow covers the ground, and darkness covers everything. The characters involved go through hell, and you as the viewer are engaged every step of the way. This is the best performance I've seen from Hugh Jackman,no doubt about that. I haven't seen him give a performance like this since Darren Aronofsky's 2006 film "The Fountain". Jackman immerses himself into the role of the father who will do whatever it takes to find his missing daughter. The other performances are great as well, but it's Jackman's that really stands out. Prisoners is one of the best movies of 2013, but it does have a few problems. The biggest one is that the script leaves a lot of plot-holes and the final act is rather unsatisfying.It's not a big gripe of mine, but the movie does fall apart a bit in it's final minutes. Nonetheless Prisoners is still a great film,especially for those who are fans of dark,mystery thrillers like Zodiac and Se7en.… Expand

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8

royoconnor4488Oct 11, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a well shot, well paced and brilliantly acted thriller. Even the child actors whom had very little screen time did a great job. It also has some real nail bitting suspense and a consistant tone that kept my attention throughout. Plus it has a great soundtrack that helped keep the dark and depressing tone keep afloat. The ending maybe a little bit to predictable (not the plot twist mind you). This movie will probably be in my top ten of 2013.… Expand

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8

askewglassesSep 25, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The film opens with Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) hunting with his son Ralph (Dylan Minnette). He utters a prayer as the deer wanders into the audience's vision. They say amen and Ralph shoots the deer. They drive home in heavy rain, while Keller gives his son a lecture about being prepared in life. They then return to home and the family goes to their neighbours for Thanksgiving dinner. He we are introduced to the very well written characters such as Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard) and his wife Nancy (Viola Davis). Both Keller and Terrence have young daughters around the same age, and they go outside to play. Keller's daughter Anna (Erin Gerasimovich) asks her parents if she can go with Eliza (Zoe Soul), Terrence's daughter, back to her house to find her red whistle. But the family finds later she never asked her brother to come with her. They don't hear from the girls, and panic sets on.
The girls are declared missing and it is Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) who is put on the case. He finds a man who was near girls last known location and brings him in. His name is Alex (Paul Dano) but unfortunately isn't able to tell them much else. Without evidence he is released, but Keller is certain Alex took his daughter, and he won't stop until he can find his daughter by any means necessary.
The movie may be slow for people, but it takes its time to develop strong characters and creates a sense of realism from the performances. Hugh Jackman's character is so well done I was reminded of the desperate man performances of the past like James Stewart in Vertigo (1958) or Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven (1992). It's a very enduring character that I believe will be remembered fondly in the years to come. Another interesting performance is by Jake Gyllenhaal as Detective Loki. He's a Detective who cares about the case but is open to all possibilities as film goes on. Even his image with the slicked back hair and tattoos are rather different from the strong moral sense he exhibits.
But aside from the performances the cinematography stands out. The director of photography, Roger Deakins, uses slow zooms and out focus backgrounds with great editing to create a unique visual experience. Visually it compares to Deakins' other work like Skyfall (2012) and No Country for Old Men (2007). In the end Prisoners work on multiple levels and is a great film to see in theatres.… Expand

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8

The_BuuOct 2, 2013

Prisoners is a dark emotionally heavy two & half hour movie. The acting performances by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhall are really well done. Its like Hugh Jackman is really going for an Oscar here. It was a bit on the long side and IPrisoners is a dark emotionally heavy two & half hour movie. The acting performances by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhall are really well done. Its like Hugh Jackman is really going for an Oscar here. It was a bit on the long side and I thought a few parts of it could have been taken out without affecting the story. You really see a family suffer here and a wild journey to show what lengths a parent will go to, to find their child.… Expand

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8

saboSep 26, 2013

The film was riveting for the first 2 hours with a few lapses in basic police work, but then it got silly! Here comes a spoiler A father who was willing to give up everything to get his daughter back would never have caved in so easily atThe film was riveting for the first 2 hours with a few lapses in basic police work, but then it got silly! Here comes a spoiler A father who was willing to give up everything to get his daughter back would never have caved in so easily at the end. That annoyed me to no end, but the performances by Jackman and Gyllenhaal were superb and the film is well worth seeing but don't bring anyone squeamish!… Expand

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8

dodds44Oct 29, 2013

Brilliantly acted, written, directed. I think its one of the best thrillers in years. It does drag at times but its still very gripping, and very tense.

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8

RedRabbleNov 2, 2013

Positives: One of the best films yet this year! Prisoners delves deep into a realm where few movies are able to take an audience. With plenty of twists and turns, along with an outstanding soundtrack and spine chilling visuals, this film willPositives: One of the best films yet this year! Prisoners delves deep into a realm where few movies are able to take an audience. With plenty of twists and turns, along with an outstanding soundtrack and spine chilling visuals, this film will keep you on the edge of your seat nonstop.

Negatives: Going into this movie you need to know your in for the long haul, even with a long attention span, the story will seem to go nowhere at points and can fatigue you with it's dark concepts. The constant depressing state and expansive plot line was nearly exhausting to watch.… Expand

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8

eagleeyevikingDec 12, 2013

risoners is an unforgettable, complex film that is beautifully shot and emotionally resonant even if it suffers from poor pacing and some unnecessary plot points.

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8

ambenderDec 28, 2013

Reminiscent of David Fincher's Zodiac in both length and scope, Prisoners is a disarmingly disturbing and effective drama that only gets better as it creeps along. Hugh Jackman anchors the film with an explosive performance, and Melissa LeoReminiscent of David Fincher's Zodiac in both length and scope, Prisoners is a disarmingly disturbing and effective drama that only gets better as it creeps along. Hugh Jackman anchors the film with an explosive performance, and Melissa Leo is award-caliber in a supporting role.… Expand

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8

NedensoruyorsunDec 29, 2013

İzlediğim en iyi Dram filmlerinden bir tanesiydi, Özellikle Hugh Jackman şahane bir performans göstermiş, Acılı bir babanın yapacaklarının sınırı yoktur. ve bu filmde bunu görüyoruz

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8

oDjentoJan 28, 2015

This film was pretty savage and brutal, but totally fascinating to watch also. It really doean't mind getting pretty dark with it's "protagonists" and also portrays a possible situation of how a parent that has that child kidnapped wouldThis film was pretty savage and brutal, but totally fascinating to watch also. It really doean't mind getting pretty dark with it's "protagonists" and also portrays a possible situation of how a parent that has that child kidnapped would react. The only thing that makes Hugh Jackmans character a protagonist is that he is the one who has something good and delicate taken from him, but his actions still make him in the wrong which males his character inbeliviably interesting to watch. Performances are brilliant and the director and cinematographer definitely worked well together for this film: they create an eerie and melancholic tone immaculately. Story line feels like it had been touched on quite a few times, but if feels rather fresh in the way it's delivered - similar to a David Fincher film. Great film overall with some great scenes in it, but i'm mixed between giving it a 7 or an 8. I'd give it a 7.5 but to keep it safe i'll round downwards instead of archetypically round up. 7 is a good score for me however and i'md say this film is a one to watch for sure!… Expand

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8

Leo9127Jan 18, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is great, it has great suspense, that kept me on the edge of my seat, the acting is great, Hugh Jackman delivers his greatest performance, but I did had a,( in my opinion), terrible ending, but this movie is still great, and one of the year's best.… Expand

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8

RamonGuerreroMay 3, 2014

A great performance by Hugh Jackman, a mind-blowing story that is not that complex, a story that can be put in 1hr 45 min, but turns out that this movie is overly long, with unnecessary scenes that make this movie 2hr 30 min and slow, whichA great performance by Hugh Jackman, a mind-blowing story that is not that complex, a story that can be put in 1hr 45 min, but turns out that this movie is overly long, with unnecessary scenes that make this movie 2hr 30 min and slow, which brings the suspense down.… Expand

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8

jhinman1228Apr 3, 2014

PRISONERS (153 min): directed by Denis Villeneuve
Posted by: Jessica Hinman
While two families come together to celebrate the holiday dedicated to giving thanks, something very precious was taken from them, their daughters. The two girlsPRISONERS (153 min): directed by Denis Villeneuve
Posted by: Jessica Hinman
While two families come together to celebrate the holiday dedicated to giving thanks, something very precious was taken from them, their daughters.
The two girls intended to slip outside for just a few minutes, but to their family’s dismay, they never returned. The community all gathered and helped the two families search for their daughters. As the scenes unravel, you begin to question the probability of a fairy tale ending.
This heart stopping, twisted crime drama appeals to the young adult and older audience because of its use of language and violent scene content. The cast consists of Jake Gyllenhaal who plays Detective Loki, Paul Dano who plays the mentally disabled suspect Alex, Terrence Howard who plays the father of the Birch family, Viola Davis who starred in the “The Help” plays the wife of Franklin Birch, and Maria Bello is the wife of Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman). When the investigation doesn’t seem to be moving quickly enough, Dover decides to take matters into his own hands. The scenes that follow make you ask yourself, “Just how far would I go to find my child?” This incredible cast takes you on a journey of emotions: from fear, to anger, to horror, and finally drops you off at guilt.
This 153 minute movie takes its time to build you up and make you think you know exactly what is happening. Then it throws you off a cliff and says “Gotcha!”
Prisoners is one of the best films of the year! Four stars go to this stomach-wrenching film that captures every parent’s most dreaded nightmare of losing their child.… Expand

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8

Meth-dudeNov 6, 2018

Despite the cliché story and the 2h30 running time, the movie still manages to be interesting and entertaining. With great acting performances, interesting characters and gorgeous cinematography, Prisoners is definitely worth the watch.

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8

Apartment64Jul 4, 2014

What's so good about "Prisoners", is that the script is very thoroughly written. The big reveal in the end does not have to be a big reveal - the film drops clues every now and then to put the viewer into the detective's role and solve theWhat's so good about "Prisoners", is that the script is very thoroughly written. The big reveal in the end does not have to be a big reveal - the film drops clues every now and then to put the viewer into the detective's role and solve the mystery before the protagonists. Also, I found Jake Gyllenhaal's performance delightfully delivered.… Expand

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8

vikesh2206Nov 9, 2014

The constantly riveting thriller Prisoners is an unforgettable, complex film that is beautifully shot and emotionally resonant even if it suffers from poor pacing and some unnecessary plot points.

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8

FilipeNetoSep 19, 2021

An intense thriller, with big moral questions and challenging dilemmas.

There is no doubt that the biggest nightmare for a parent is to see a child die, especially if it is the result of a criminal's perfidious mind. But I don't know howAn intense thriller, with big moral questions and challenging dilemmas.

There is no doubt that the biggest nightmare for a parent is to see a child die, especially if it is the result of a criminal's perfidious mind. But I don't know how much better the abduction of a child is: it is not known if the child is alive or dead, what happened to him, if he is all right, and all the uncertainty has the effect, on a father, of a real Chinese torture . This film tells us about that, and the moral boundaries and barriers that a father is willing to break in order to get a daughter back.

The script is extraordinarily good, intense and morally challenging. I don't think it's possible to remain indifferent to such a dramatic story: while the police do what they can to locate Keller Dover's missing daughter, the desperate father decides to act on his own and arrest and even torture the one he senses to be the culprit, even though you have no proof of this and know that you are committing a crime by doing so. Meanwhile, a police detective continues to investigate, and goes looking for other possible suspects.

The film features two great performances by two renowned actors: Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman. The two give us powerful performances, and the way they both perform is impeccable, stealing our attention whenever they show up. In addition to this duo of actors, the film also features good appearances by Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Paul Dano and Terrence Howard. And in fact, we cannot say that any of them looked bad. All were well and up to what was asked of them.

Technically, it's a low-key film that lets us be fully aware of the story that will be told, as well as the excellent performance of the cast. Many of the film's scenes are at night, and night shooting can be challenging, but the cinematography is very good and made very clever use of darkness, shadows and spotlights to intensify the tense atmosphere that the film builds. . The filming locations, sets and costumes also make a good contribution to the construction of the global panorama and the environment, without jarring notes worthy of mention. The visual and sound effects worked well, but maybe a little more soundtrack is missing, punctually.… Expand

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8

AlfatriMuhOct 14, 2018

The Good:
1. Acting, i should say that this is one of the best performances for both leading actors. Hugh Jackman was incredible.
2. Plot and characterization, well i can expected that by seeing the director's name. One of the bestThe Good:
1. Acting, i should say that this is one of the best performances for both leading actors. Hugh Jackman was incredible.
2. Plot and characterization, well i can expected that by seeing the director's name. One of the best crime-thriller ever made, keep you sucked into the plot.
3. Cinematography, genius Deakins success to build the tense of the film only by his work. Film atmosphere was really good.

The Bad: Overlong and the original score not pretty good to lived up the film. I mean, Johann was a really good composer, especially his work in Sicario and Arrival, but it's not work here.

Conclusion: Many good aspects of the film, but its just good, not amazing. 81/100… Expand

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8

JamedrisApr 10, 2019

Available on PL Netflix now, I encourage y'all to watch because it has an amazing ending, not everything goes smoothly and fine, just as IRL. Plus, Jake is amazing and I fully appreciate his character's creation. Tattoos, impulsiveAvailable on PL Netflix now, I encourage y'all to watch because it has an amazing ending, not everything goes smoothly and fine, just as IRL. Plus, Jake is amazing and I fully appreciate his character's creation. Tattoos, impulsive behaviour... It's obvious that this man HAS a past. Strong 8.… Expand

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8

ArunpawarJun 2, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A good thriller movie
A bit slow at starting 1 hour after that Story started on track… Expand

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8

MrPajamasJul 28, 2022

From the beginning to the end it was a blast, well, almost to the end. Right from the first scene the film grabbed me and didn't even let go. I had a very good time watching this film. I really liked the locations and the overall camera work.From the beginning to the end it was a blast, well, almost to the end. Right from the first scene the film grabbed me and didn't even let go. I had a very good time watching this film. I really liked the locations and the overall camera work. The acting was great too. The storyline didn't disappoint either. I found it very interesting and was waiting to see how it would turn out. Everything was so well done, except for the ending, which wasn't bad, but it felt like there was more to come. If it had ended about 5 minutes earlier, it might have been better. That's my opinion. It was the only thing I didn't like. But despite that, it was a great movie that I recommend, especially to fans of the detective genre.… Expand

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8

AJ_13Mar 25, 2021

It keeps you on the edge of your seat during the whole movie. Performances, direction and the convoluted plot are its strongest points. It also invites you to ask yourself questions about justice, machiavellianism, even religion.

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8

AgentLviJul 21, 2023

Great movie. The story is decent. The scoring is great, visual is really amazing, the voice & sound is also amazing

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8

DunkaccinoAug 30, 2023

With a great director and a flawless cast. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal are unmatched with their respective performances.

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8

DarkwingSchmuckJul 27, 2023

Denis Villeneuve made a name for himself with this film, and while his best work was yet to come, you can see the makings of a master in Prisoners. Few directors right now are as good at building tension as Villeneuve.

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8

umrttlJan 8, 2023

I like the story, it keeps you guessing on who's good and who's bad. My only issue is the bad guys end up being shallow and not really fleshed out.

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7

JacobSep 28, 2013

Overall I liked Prisoners. I will admit I was not that engaged for a good chunk of the movie. The movie had me at some parts but lost me a good chunk of the time but towards the end the film got going and I finally got the thriller I wantedOverall I liked Prisoners. I will admit I was not that engaged for a good chunk of the movie. The movie had me at some parts but lost me a good chunk of the time but towards the end the film got going and I finally got the thriller I wanted to see. I just wish I had gotten there sooner. If you want to see this movie keep in mind it takes forever to get going, it has some gore, and that there is no guarantee you will be satisfied with the ending that you had to sit through almost two hours of nothingness to get to. While the film could have been shortened this film had enough engaging scenes, especially at the end, to make glad I saw it. While the film can be slow and dull at times, the third act of the film makes it worth the wait as some really interesting/horrifying/shocking stuff happens making it worth a look.… Expand

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7

RaygirlOct 5, 2013

Good solid movie, a bit long and unbelievable (but aren't all movies?). Just wished the ending had been a bit more satisfying IMHO it "cut off" a bit too early. Another good movie very similar to this (without as many characters) isGood solid movie, a bit long and unbelievable (but aren't all movies?). Just wished the ending had been a bit more satisfying IMHO it "cut off" a bit too early. Another good movie very similar to this (without as many characters) is CHAINED directed by David Lynch's daughter. It was more believable and more gut wrenching.… Expand

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7

TVJerrySep 24, 2013

It happens on a happy Thanksgiving: Two families who have gathered to celebrate discover their daughters have disappeared. While there's a cop on the case (Jake Gyllenhaal), one of the fathers (Hugh Jackman) decides to take matters into hisIt happens on a happy Thanksgiving: Two families who have gathered to celebrate discover their daughters have disappeared. While there's a cop on the case (Jake Gyllenhaal), one of the fathers (Hugh Jackman) decides to take matters into his own hands (with some unpleasant results). This isn't really a revenge flick, as much as an often intense crime drama. The cast is uniformly excellent and much of the movie is compelling, but the 2 1/2-hour length could have used some cutting. Much of the middle simply drags on. That being said, it's a complex story that's effectively told.… Expand

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7

Lambo442Dec 21, 2013

Good acting, good atmosphere, but overall a pretty contrived film loaded with loads of cliches, like text book looking nonces, macho cops who hardly say a word, and your predictable whodunnit style plot twists. I like the 90's TV drama feelGood acting, good atmosphere, but overall a pretty contrived film loaded with loads of cliches, like text book looking nonces, macho cops who hardly say a word, and your predictable whodunnit style plot twists. I like the 90's TV drama feel of the film and there is something nostalgic about it, but I think our expectations have been lowered by all the crap coming our way these days, hence this films great reviews.… Expand

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7

rocketpackpandaDec 18, 2013

A mostly mediocre film with some incredible performances. The plot itself tugs at heart strings a tad too much but its okay since the ending and acting are downright fantastic. Gyllenhall and Jackman are incredible and frankly its surprisingA mostly mediocre film with some incredible performances. The plot itself tugs at heart strings a tad too much but its okay since the ending and acting are downright fantastic. Gyllenhall and Jackman are incredible and frankly its surprising to see the lack of love for them in this awards season. Even when the scene seems trite and overwrought with melodrama these two, neigh, the cast seems to ground it with force and believability unlike any other performance this year. The ending too is handled marvelously, making a perfect balancing act between meaningful and happy go lucky.… Expand

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7

Tss5078May 26, 2014

Prisoners is a prime example of why I will never understand Hollywood. You've got a truly great story, an all-star cast, and a world renowned Director, making his American debut. Prisoners was considered to be an Oscar caliber film before itPrisoners is a prime example of why I will never understand Hollywood. You've got a truly great story, an all-star cast, and a world renowned Director, making his American debut. Prisoners was considered to be an Oscar caliber film before it was even released, yet for some reason they had to make it nearly three hours long. If there was enough story for a three hour film, then I'd be all for it, but Prisoners has a good 45 minutes worth of repetitiveness, that does nothing to help the movie, in fact, it takes something away from the film. The story begins on Thanksgiving, when two little girls go outside to play and disappear. Feeling that the police aren't doing enough to find the kids, one father (Hugh Jackman) decides to take matters into his own hands. Hugh Jackman stars in a role I wouldn't have imagined him playing in a million years. Based on his other roles and what I know about the man, this doesn't even seem like the kind of role he'd be interested in, but he gives one of the strongest performances I've seen all year, I really didn't know he had that in him. Jackman is paired by Jake Gyllenhaal, another guy who I couldn't see playing a tough as nails police detective, but he too surprised, giving a very strong performance. The cast isn't the problem and the story isn't the problem, what bothered me about this film was how much of it was unnecessary. Did we really need dozens of scenes with Jackman and Dano or all the talk and sadness amongst the families? This was a great all-around movie, but it was so long, that by the end, I'd stopped caring about what was happening and just wanted it to be over. Don't get me wrong, I highly recommend this film for a unique twist on classic story, great performances from an unlikely cast, and the work of a Director who his known around the world for his signature style, but just a word of caution. Prisoners is a very long film, that at many points seems to go around in circles. When they eventually do get to the point, it's outstanding, but it takes a while to get there.… Expand

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7

imthenoobDec 16, 2013

The lengthy run time (2 and a half hours) pushes it but as a whole, Prisoners was a pretty enjoyable film that was rather entertaining to watch. I'd recommend it.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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7

Prodigy2013Oct 13, 2013

One of the better entries into this year’s crowded fall season is ‘Prisoners’, and it will leave you on the edge of your seat. When a family man’s daughter and her friend go missing; he takes matters into his own hands while the policeOne of the better entries into this year’s crowded fall season is ‘Prisoners’, and it will leave you on the edge of your seat. When a family man’s daughter and her friend go missing; he takes matters into his own hands while the police methodically pursue multiple leads. It’s a rather conventional story that just happens to be very well told, and never short on legitimately tense and shocking moments. But it should be noted that this is not just gripping thriller, it’s also a dense drama. It’s a drama so dense, that it easily came across as being too self serious; no thanks to those slightly excessive performances and the staggering runtime. In short, the film felt a bit overly dramatic. Hugh Jackman stands out as a devout father who, through his desperation, acts on tense misguided emotions to search for his missing daughter. However, Jake Gyllenhaal, while good, doesn't benefit as much from the subtle excesses of his character. He portrays a tattoo laden, eye twitching, heroic figure (in contrast to Jackman’s anti-heroic turn), who carefully leads the investigation for the missing girls. Director, Denis Villeneuve directs his actors consistently, and excels at constructing the tension that lingers throughout this chilly film. Atmosphere is key when it comes to bleak thrillers such as this; and who better than, cinematographer, Roger Deakins to set the dreadful tone. His lenses which captures the grey days and pitch black nights, offset by the clear rain and white snow, adds nuance and a great degree pedigree to something that could have easily been a pedestrian project. ‘Prisoners’ looked great, and through its faults came some rewards; as the performance heavy approach and the solidity of its crime story kept me invested in the characters and truly engaged with the movie on a whole. And what else can I say; its impressive ending didn't hurt one bit.… Expand

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7

morfilJan 8, 2016

The whole "Crime:In the name of Love" story is not that attractive due to the mass editing problems,some scenes seem to be a little strange without any logic senses.The director has tried so hard to show the story with two parts including theThe whole "Crime:In the name of Love" story is not that attractive due to the mass editing problems,some scenes seem to be a little strange without any logic senses.The director has tried so hard to show the story with two parts including the Dovers and the Detective,but also failed to dig the real meaning from it,about crime,about faith,about love and belief.The whole frame of the story is so vacuous that everything seems to be unreal,so are the performances.To be frank,Hugh Jackman has given us a convincing father who has suffered a lot,but some of his behaviors still remain incomprehensible.Jake is awesome as a police detective,but I'm not sure if he can get another Supporting Actor nomination.Oscar winner Melissa Leo has shocked me indeed.… Expand

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7

Taa4oeOct 10, 2013

A very dark and intriguing film, similar to Zodiac, which asks us the question how far we could go to find our missing loved ones, in this case our children. The film is quite long and there is obviously a lot of drama, but it managed to keepA very dark and intriguing film, similar to Zodiac, which asks us the question how far we could go to find our missing loved ones, in this case our children. The film is quite long and there is obviously a lot of drama, but it managed to keep me interested throughout the entire movie because the film succeeds in making the viewer feel the pain and despair of the family, partly due to a great and gritty performance by Hugh Jackman, and by making us want to uncover the truth with regard to a few characters. Are some people really as guilty or suspicious as they seem or do we judge too easily because we want to believe that there is more? Prisoners poses us this question and keeps us on the edge of our seats as it takes us on a search for answers.… Expand

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7

ItsMuchMoreMar 8, 2015

I was a little hesitant in seeing Prisoners, as when i saw the trailers, i thought straight away that that they gave everything away. Had it shown us what really happened, who the kidnapper was and if any major twists that would ruin theI was a little hesitant in seeing Prisoners, as when i saw the trailers, i thought straight away that that they gave everything away. Had it shown us what really happened, who the kidnapper was and if any major twists that would ruin the film? Well many people thought so. I had a look on a few forums and websites, and everyone were the same. Had the trailers just ruined the whole premise of the film, well fortunately not. So here I am after watching Prisoners, quite happy that i was proved wrong, and I had just watched an enjoyable albeit a little dragged out crime drama.

We’re pretty much thrown straight into things. After a small family thanksgiving get together, and a little more booze than initially thought, the dads Keller and Franklin (Hugh Jackman and Terrence Howard) along with mothers Grace and Nancy, (Maria Bello and Viola Davis) relax and wind down with a few games. After allowing their two young daughters to go outside and play about by their home which also has a creepy looking, dirty, dingy, RV camper van near by, it suddenly becomes apparent that their children are missing, and once its noticed that this suspect RV has also gone walkabouts, the conclusion is that their kids have been abducted.

This leads to a police hunt led by Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) promising that he will find these kids no matter what. The camper van being the supposed key to everything, has learning impaired Alex Jones at the wheel (played superbly by Paul Dano) all caught up in a story with numerous turns, twists and submissions, that it continuously keeps the viewer guessing whats going on, and who is behind everything that happens in front of their eyes. In the closing stages of the film, its seems all a little rushed in regards to the twist, but if paying enough attention, the audience should clock on with what is happening and have the reveal before the characters. A good few clues are thrown straight in front of our eyes, and I quite liked the fact that we could work this out before the some of the characters, as we were seeing things from a different perspective.

Loki, the fathers, and the mothers all go through the emotions, with varying differences in how these families cope with the taking of these girls. Some take the vengeful route, others take matters in to their own hands, and some break down into an emotional wreck, disregarding anything else in the world to them. This is very apparent in the way the mothers deal with this current loss, one very different from the other.

Some aspects within the film come across slightly strange, mainly for me, the police side of things and the way Keller acts. There really is only Loki looking for these children, trying to piece together what has happened, and how to solve it. Yes every now and then another police officer is seen, but generally with two girls missing, I would have thought a bigger police presence would have been on the scene. This might be because Loki has some demons of his own that is pushing him towards this case, but still it looked all a bit sparse. Keller on the other hand, when taking action into his own hands, seems so intent on one person, with really nothing to go on at most times, that his actions just seemed out of the blue for who he is and what he did. Yes his child is missing, but what he does, and somehow with complete ease, seems far-fetched in the way he gets away with it, but again that may loop to the lack of police presence, Keller is easily able to do what he wants, when he wants, to try and force answers that he wants to hear, because no one is stopping him.

I thought the film would build up the families a bit more, show us who these people are, what they are like, build a relationship with the viewer before the kidnapping took place. But nope, 10-15 mins in and the films major plot begins, the two young children we are briefly introduced to have been taken, and the story starts. We were never really given any real close knit family moments, or any real introduction to the two girls, but if we were shown this, it may may have made Prisoners even darker than it is. Yes the terrible aspect of these two children taken is bad enough here, its strong enough to make the audience greatly care, and the story twists continue to intrigue, but that slight cover from the director, making the viewers not attached to these specific children by name, may have made the emotional absorbing rollercoaster of a story , that little bit easier to watch. However i did enjoy the relationship between Alex Jones and his grandmother. It was well thought out initially, but again would have liked certain parts to have been explained further.

The film goes on for over 150 minutes, which at times feels like its dragging, but weirdly enough certain scenes, as like previously said, the reveal, the twist, feels rushed. I enjoyed Prisoners from the off. Some of the characters actions were questionable

Full Review @ItsMuchMore… Expand

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7

alpoJan 14, 2014

Prisoners is a pretty good film, but has its faults. The early scenes of two families dealing with the unimaginable are great, and Gyllenhall is solid as the detective. As the plot unfold, it is at once riveting, unbelievable, shocking, andPrisoners is a pretty good film, but has its faults. The early scenes of two families dealing with the unimaginable are great, and Gyllenhall is solid as the detective. As the plot unfold, it is at once riveting, unbelievable, shocking, and hokey. I was either rolling my eyes or holding my breath. The length feels a bit unnecessary. Overall, worth a watch if you like the actors and crime films full of twists.… Expand

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7

poewilsonOct 5, 2017

Real rating: 7.8/10
Those who love dearly are destined to be victims of wrath, a true yet cynical thought. A decently paced thriller for its length struggles with the weird morals of its characters, or lack thereof in 80% of the cast, as wellReal rating: 7.8/10
Those who love dearly are destined to be victims of wrath, a true yet cynical thought. A decently paced thriller for its length struggles with the weird morals of its characters, or lack thereof in 80% of the cast, as well as their inability to see that they are all prisoners to their own ideals, beliefs, desires and wants. They are inhumane creatures being portrayed as humane and no better example of this is the wife character thanking god for one of the most heinous atrocities an average human could conduct. The acting, while a touch over the top in scenes, is stellar, the cinematography is excellent and the directing superb, the writing is actually the let down, though it feels like it shouldn't be and most will be able to gloss over this as we the viewer tend to accept weaker writing so long as our emotional strings are being played eloquently.… Expand

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7

DontBeSaltyJan 22, 2015

This film was a surprisingly enjoyable ride, it had sleek visuals, engaging characters and a plot that had me hooked until the very end, where it stumbled a bit. Hugh Jackman felt like a strange pick considering how many people would onlyThis film was a surprisingly enjoyable ride, it had sleek visuals, engaging characters and a plot that had me hooked until the very end, where it stumbled a bit. Hugh Jackman felt like a strange pick considering how many people would only associate him with the endless **** comic book movies that are still spraying out of Hollywoods anus, extremely average action movies, and that one movie Australia that literally no-one gives a **** about. Hugh was good though, he played the emotionally tormented dad who would do anything for his daughter, but he takes it to the point where he goes so far that everyone in the audience disconnected from the character completely and he enters the "too **** up to sympathise" zone which is usually reserved for the bad guy so their torturous demise can be justified, but the movie continues like hes a protagonist and everyone just runs with it because **** yeah we want to know who took his daughter.

Jake Gyllenhaal does a great job of the obsessed gifted detective and his scenes are what make the movie interesting, but he's downplayed somewhat by the amount of screentime he shares and gives up for Jackman who spends it torturing a retard who somehow withstands serious amounts of **** which I felt was unrealistic or at least poorly explained, he says just enough to provoke Jackmans character and acts like he's intentionally enduring the torture for mysterious reasons, which are never really explored. The final scene is somewhat of a tease where a dramatic 3-way of characters with extremely strong motivation could have clashed but instead sort of just wrapped up without too much of a fuss.

Still a great thriller that might be a bit uncomfortable for your girlfriend, but she'll be squeezing your hand real tight the whole time, absolutely worth a view.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

flabbygumsAug 17, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie was quite watchable, but had yet another totally implausible ending that could have so easily been avoided with better writing. Spoiler: when 6'1"/180 lbs Hugh Jackman is in the abductor's kitchen, he had several opportunities to clobber the killer, gun and all. That's what would have happened in real life. He would have thrown himself on her and beat the crap out of her.… Expand

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7

LoletinAlexisApr 29, 2020

Prisoners is a remarkable thriller that is negatively affected by its excessive length and the "improvised" coincidences of the plot.

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7

o_retyJun 17, 2019

Intense, grips you till the end, but there are some questionable plot twists. I mean, they are utilized for a reason and they do their job fine, but better not look at them too close, lest the charm may vanish. Also naming the simpleton "AlexIntense, grips you till the end, but there are some questionable plot twists. I mean, they are utilized for a reason and they do their job fine, but better not look at them too close, lest the charm may vanish. Also naming the simpleton "Alex Jones". Really?… Expand

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7

Sam_GreenOct 1, 2020

I think this has now tempted me into not having kids. Which is a pretty big praise for this film We see a rugged and stone-faced Hugh Jackman play a father to a missing daughter in a sombre (And very rainy) American town, as he very quicklyI think this has now tempted me into not having kids. Which is a pretty big praise for this film We see a rugged and stone-faced Hugh Jackman play a father to a missing daughter in a sombre (And very rainy) American town, as he very quickly becomes tortured by the search for her. This is alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, a complicated detective who also takes on this pain, maybe a bit too much.
Firstly, the camera work on this is what first strikes me (What else do you expect from Rog Deaks?). The majority of the film is slow, building tension and sometimes leaving you as equally as disorientated as the characters. The colour and lighting is as dull and dreary as it comes, reflecting the plot with no happiness shining through. In other films, this trope really bores me but because of the mystery and suspense this creates, the lack of colour did not lose my attention and adds to the sense of doom
The performances? Easy! My favourite Hugh Jackman performance hands down. He strikes similar notes as he does in Logan (Which he is also great) but because there is no air a ‘superhero’ movie, I find his reactions more relatable. He is emotional to the right extent and not giving much away emotions in others and adds so much to his character. Jake Gyllenhaal is good and one of his better performances, I feel I’ve seen this same character in other movies (An emotional cop who takes way too much baggage in his job – Watch ‘The Sinner’ for just one example). Nevertheless, he was believable, but I felt that if that character was played by someone else, I wouldn’t have my opinion changed. One character that took me right out of the movie was the son (Played by that boy from ‘13 reasons why’). His whole performance, but in particular, his dramatic scenes were too over the top for this film and his other scenes were very 1 dimensional. A needed shoutout to Paul Dano as he puts in a great performance too, making me excited to see his work as The Riddler. I can be quite picky about films ending, particularly the continuation of the tone, (A lot of films lose the tone in favour of a big third act finale) and I must say Prisoners does slightly lose me at the end. It continued themes from the first act and even brought in more themes and pursued them to the end. The film’s climatic scenes were again brilliantly shot but, like so many endings to thrillers, it was trying to rely on twists that didn’t need to be there making it more convoluted. I’m glad it didn’t take this to the extreme as to ruin the rest of a great film
Overall, one of the better thrillers to come out of the last 10 years. The mood is consistent, and the plot kept intrigue. The characters were believable and HJ gave a 9/10 performance and I would like to see him take on even more challenging roles. I would recommend this to: Film Fans and casual film watchers… Expand

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7

Zac03Aug 8, 2021

A mostly mediocre film with some incredible performances. The plot itself tugs at heart strings a tad too much but it's okay since the ending and acting are downright fantastic. Gyllenhall and Jackman are incredible and frankly its surprisingA mostly mediocre film with some incredible performances. The plot itself tugs at heart strings a tad too much but it's okay since the ending and acting are downright fantastic. Gyllenhall and Jackman are incredible and frankly its surprising to see the lack of love for them in this awards season. Even when the scene seems trite and overwrought with melodrama these two, neigh, the cast seems to ground it with force and believability unlike any other performance this year. The ending too is handled marvelously, making a perfect balancing act between meaningful and happy go lucky.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

Trev29Dec 9, 2013

Shot skillfully which helps add to the tension of this otherwise extremely overlong bore. The movie tries to establish too many themes with too many tangents and it adds nothing. Was the ending worth the wait, no...but I was still curious toShot skillfully which helps add to the tension of this otherwise extremely overlong bore. The movie tries to establish too many themes with too many tangents and it adds nothing. Was the ending worth the wait, no...but I was still curious to know what happened.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

oblique15May 10, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I liked it for the most part, but was kind of disappointed.The movie has great actors, and they did a great job.It also did a good job of keeping me guessing, but the ending was kind of annoying for me.It just felt incomplete for me, and I didn`t get any real satisfaction out of anything that happened.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

ocayfineSep 23, 2013

The actors tried hard to give their characters some depth (eye twitch Jake) but the story felt like something a 9th grader wrote for his creative writing assignment. I felt like it moved from one predictable moment to the next while, all theThe actors tried hard to give their characters some depth (eye twitch Jake) but the story felt like something a 9th grader wrote for his creative writing assignment. I felt like it moved from one predictable moment to the next while, all the time, jumping up and down and waving its hand "Look at me! See what I did here? Isn't it cool?" I may have sat for the 153 minutes and walked away entertained, but that is the only expectation met. The quality of the entertainment was sorely lacking.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

NazguleroDec 18, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not bad, but if you are older and know a lot of movies, you notice when they steal scenes from other, previous movies that nobody seems to remember. The ending, well, didn't Rose do the same thing in Titanic The stuff he had to drink to drug himself, only to be buried then The Vanishing...
Anyway, good entertainment, a bit too long maybe...… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

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5

marco34laSep 22, 2013

'Prisoners' is a very moody film, beautifully shot, acted and suspenseful. HOWEVER, unlike the movies to which it's been compared to by some (Mystic River, Silence of Lambs, Zodiac), Prisoners also borderlines on the 'ridiculous.' There are a'Prisoners' is a very moody film, beautifully shot, acted and suspenseful. HOWEVER, unlike the movies to which it's been compared to by some (Mystic River, Silence of Lambs, Zodiac), Prisoners also borderlines on the 'ridiculous.' There are a lot of 'holes' in the story/plot that ultimately disappoint. In terms of story I would say that this film is more like a hybrid of: "The Lovely Bones" "Mystic River" and "Extremities"
(which starred Farah Fawcet). Overall, it's a worthwhile film for the performances and cinematography. The movie could have been great had it been edited down and fleshed out a bit more.… Expand

3 of 13 users found this helpful310

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5

ROFLoomSep 24, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Prisoners does not take long to start off the story, probably less than 10 minutes in, and it prolongs the story which makes a nice effect on the audience. It creates the feeling that the girls have been gone for so long, and toward the end of the film, since its so long, the audience will have lost hope. The story itself is a puzzle, and the audience almost has to put together the pieces, but in the end it does not really connect all the pieces together but rather gets lazy about it and just comes up with some random excuse as to how the kids got stolen. It has a cliff hanger ending which I hate in films, like we've been committed the past 2 and a half hours for this? Also the character development... through the film we understand the 2 main leads pretty well, Keller Dover (Jackman) and Officer Loki (Jake (his first name is easier to spell)) but we don't know who they are, you know what I mean? We get no look at Loki's personal life, or why he is driven so hard to find these girls. We get a glimpse in the first several minutes of the film of Jackman's character, a hunter, a strict parent, an ambitious worker. But so much is unexplained... It is one of those films where while watching it you are on the edge of your seat, not necessarily because of the story but because each individual scene's artistic merit creates suspense, but after the film you walk away feeling like you got absolutely nothing out of that movie.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

Dimitris01Oct 31, 2013

It has suspense but any movie where two little girls are kidnapped is going to have suspense even if it isn't well-written. 'Prisoners' is such a movie. Most of the time you see either an incompetent detective or a desperate father torturingIt has suspense but any movie where two little girls are kidnapped is going to have suspense even if it isn't well-written. 'Prisoners' is such a movie. Most of the time you see either an incompetent detective or a desperate father torturing someone who, for unknown reasons, doesn't tell him what he knows about the crime. The third act is bad and the closure of the story is unacceptable. At least Jackman is great, he convinces you that he is full of anger, pain and regret.
argonautis.eu… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

kglnycSep 22, 2013

I wanted to like this movie much more than I did the actors do a fine job and the direction has its merit. Problem is that it's such a heavy-handed allegory about a post-9/11 America grappling with the ethics of revenge vs. justice, a holyI wanted to like this movie much more than I did the actors do a fine job and the direction has its merit. Problem is that it's such a heavy-handed allegory about a post-9/11 America grappling with the ethics of revenge vs. justice, a holy war, and use/effects of "rendition"/torture against innocents and perhaps not-so-innocents. That some audience members laughed at some of the moments that were meant to be terrifying convinced me either the public has developed a callous jadedness towards these very important issues or the film is clumsy in how it tackles them. This wasn't a "bad" film, just one that could've used fewer nonsensical twists-and-turns that too nicely allow an allegorical frame for what at its heart is about the terrifying idea of how innocence can be lost to random evil.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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5

IssuNov 19, 2013

I'm still trying to understand how this movie got such a high rating from both users and critics .

I hated this movie for its dragging style, irrelevant plots and a mediocre script. The End was not at all convincing after all jackmansI'm still trying to understand how this movie got such a high rating from both users and critics .

I hated this movie for its dragging style, irrelevant plots and a mediocre script.

The End was not at all convincing after all jackmans character did may be there is some message in the end .but that wasn't enough to make it a good movie.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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5

3NO37Dec 13, 2013

Good cast not such a good movie though
Think the trailer over hyped it for me too much
So a 5/10 is suitable nothing special going on Watch it if you have nothing else to watch that is the category you put this movie in Hope I ain'tGood cast not such a good movie though
Think the trailer over hyped it for me too much
So a 5/10 is suitable nothing special going on
Watch it if you have nothing else to watch that is the category you put this movie in
Hope I ain't being too harsh hehe… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

lumivixFeb 16, 2019

As many have pointed out, it was much too long. Had it been at least 30 minutes shorter it would have been a pretty solid 2hr movie. Some have said the ending "ruins" the whole thing, I disagree, though I can understand why some would feelAs many have pointed out, it was much too long. Had it been at least 30 minutes shorter it would have been a pretty solid 2hr movie. Some have said the ending "ruins" the whole thing, I disagree, though I can understand why some would feel that way. I don't regret watching it, it honestly was good aside from being overlong.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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4

netflicSep 30, 2013

Hugh Jackman. Nominated for Oscar.
Jake Gyllenhaal. Nominated for Oscar.
Viola Davis. Nominated for 2 Oscars. Terrence Howard. Nominated for Oscar. Melissa Leo. Won Oscar. Maria Bello. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.Hugh Jackman. Nominated for Oscar.
Jake Gyllenhaal. Nominated for Oscar.
Viola Davis. Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Terrence Howard. Nominated for Oscar.
Melissa Leo. Won Oscar.
Maria Bello. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.
Cinematography. Roger Deakins Nominated for 10 Oscars

This list of Oscar nominees who acted and worked in this movie is not full.

Take a number of excellent and famous actors, the best cinematographer and a mediocre script. The result will be a strange mix. A beautiful picture with decent performance and plenty of suspense. But, as they say, a spoonful of tar spoils a barrel of honey. The script has so many impossible, improbable holes in it.
If it were a movie like "Die Hard" or "Mission Impossible" where you expect impossible and improbable, and the whole point is pure entertainment. But this movie pretends to be a serious crime drama. Well, it is rather another "could have been"... It it were seriously edited and cut to, say, 100 minutes instead of 153, then, maybe, it would be quite good of a movie. I was disappointed.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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4

bigfoot6463Sep 27, 2013

Good movie, good plot. I would have given this movie a 9/10 if it wasn't for the fact that 90 seconds [the last 90 seconds] ruined the whole movie. What were the producers thinking????? They had a slam dunk kick ass movie if the ending did'ntGood movie, good plot. I would have given this movie a 9/10 if it wasn't for the fact that 90 seconds [the last 90 seconds] ruined the whole movie. What were the producers thinking????? They had a slam dunk kick ass movie if the ending did'nt suck, and it sucked bad, bad enough to ruin the entire movie. Please dont waste you money, but if you do, dont say I didnt tell you that you will leave the movie theater discussed and angry. I feel like I was robbed and that is not a good feeling. At best, only because of the ending, this movie should not get a higher rating then a 6/10.… Expand

2 of 13 users found this helpful211

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4

moviescriticnetDec 8, 2015

Wow, that's one really overrated movie (it even got an Oscar nomination). I don't understand why director Dennis Villeneuve is hold in such high esteem but this drama/crime/mystery film is just boring.
Despite the shiny cast and theWow, that's one really overrated movie (it even got an Oscar nomination). I don't understand why director Dennis Villeneuve is hold in such high esteem but this drama/crime/mystery film is just boring.
Despite the shiny cast and the atmospheric direction this is just a mediocre missing persons crime movie that is painfully slow and lengthy. Good luck trying to cope with 153 minutes of slow motion "action scenes", like watching people crossing a road in the rain in real **** time (and in slow pace)!
I do not know how everyone considered this movie an "emotional, absorbing and disturbing viewing" (rotten tomatoes critics consensus) but I would say that is just a disturbing viewing. The only real prisoner is the spectator.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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4

NomNom170May 18, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Prisoners is a dark and dreary thriller with a brilliant story and cinematography but the ending was really aggravating as you don't find out what happens to the guy and leaves it on a **** cliffhanger… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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3

TheKiddyDec 17, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am watching this movie now. (spoiler coming) But what I see is a sadist using the disappearance of his child to torture another human being --and two weak characters, the underused, underwritten, undeveloped, almost forgotten parents of the other child. Oh, and an essentially passive detective.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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3

TheHague67Sep 22, 2013

...Terrible...First off, this was produced by Mark Wahlberg so you would think it would be, at the very least, mildly badass. Plus it has Hugh Jackman, Jake Gillyhall, the Black Guy from Ironman, and the kid from There Will Be Blood plays an...Terrible...First off, this was produced by Mark Wahlberg so you would think it would be, at the very least, mildly badass. Plus it has Hugh Jackman, Jake Gillyhall, the Black Guy from Ironman, and the kid from There Will Be Blood plays an assburger.
That aside, the movie starts off like any other kidnap movie. Happy family, parents not paying attention, rapist scoops up the goods. Pretty standard. The suspect gets off clean, the police dont even contemplate anyone else as a possibility and Hugh Jackman takes justice into his own hands. Which sounds exciting right? Wrong. The plot proceeds to drag on for 2 and a half hours of blatantly cut and dry detective work, some moralistic struggles with Jackman and the mom giving Wolverine crap for not protecting them better. Which pisses me off cuz at least HE didnt spend the first week after their kid got snatched up drowning his sorrows in Zoloft and Puffs Plus Tissues. All that aside, this team of Oscar Award winners couldn't make up for the horrendous plot. Kinda makes me wonder if Jackman actually read the script or if that ability was taken with his kid. In the end, all I could feel was that the real Prisoners in this story was the audience themselves.… Expand

6 of 21 users found this helpful615

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3

mniroSep 23, 2013

This is classic case of STYLE over SUBSTANCE! It is beautifully shot, the music is spot on... it's moody and pulls you IN. It is very visually engaging. The story and plot have more holes in them then a golf course!! The torture scenario isThis is classic case of STYLE over SUBSTANCE! It is beautifully shot, the music is spot on... it's moody and pulls you IN. It is very visually engaging. The story and plot have more holes in them then a golf course!! The torture scenario is just ridiculous, no one would go along with this... nor take it this far.
Also, the audience is deliberately mislead throughout, to engage viewers, so they're scratching their heads, but when it all starts to unfold... it's just an unbelievable mess. I WAS engaged during the movie... it was the ending and then all the thought in hind-sight that made me hate this more and more. I feel like I was held 'prisoner' tricked into waiting for something that didn't pan out. It's a RENTAL folks. You'll enjoy it a lot more at home when you're not paying or expecting something truly worthwhile.… Expand

6 of 14 users found this helpful68

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3

raviopatraNov 17, 2013

I was first intrigued to see it by the trailer and it really did seem like a great thriller. With Jackman, Gyllenhaal, Leo, and Davis in the cast, I think it was right of me to expect a first class motion pictures. But to my surprise, theI was first intrigued to see it by the trailer and it really did seem like a great thriller. With Jackman, Gyllenhaal, Leo, and Davis in the cast, I think it was right of me to expect a first class motion pictures. But to my surprise, the movie sucks.

the first one hour runs smoothly. I love how they get into the real problem (kidnapping) so quickly into the opening and how it slowly starts tearing the two families apart. Right at the moment it starts dealing with past unsolved kidnapping cases that Det. Loki thinks are related to the current case, it all drops dead to the point that I feel like I'm being held hostage to stay in the theater with a gun to my head just to see the movie ends.

The "maze" plot is totally unsolved and it was really a huge let-down for me. Then comes the snakes in the boxes. While it was pretty scary and intense (despite the poor VFX), it was also left unsolved. WTF was that? And finally, the ending did not payoff the two and a half hours spent at all!! Seriously, even killing Jackman's character is much better than leaving it hanging on like that.

At last, despite my man-crush on Gyllenhaal and genuine love for Leo, I wouldn't want to see the movie for another run even if it was for free.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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3

LouisCarveFeb 9, 2014

This movie is terrible if you like your films to make a modicum of sense. It's truly an unbelievable mess which only angered me as I watched it to its ridiculous conclusion. The cast is great, the acting is good too I just wonder why no-oneThis movie is terrible if you like your films to make a modicum of sense. It's truly an unbelievable mess which only angered me as I watched it to its ridiculous conclusion. The cast is great, the acting is good too I just wonder why no-one was screaming at the director and asking the simple question if everyone in this town is retarded or has an IQ below that of a chimp. Like others have said it is well shot and the music is suspenseful and the core of the story is really good, but the characters are a major let down and the script was weak. There are so many holes in this that the leaps the characters make, for this film to progress its story are truly ridiculous. This was no thriller, there was no suspense and seemed pretty obvious to me despite the lengths the writers went to as an attempt to confuse the audience. Its shallow nonsense that's all I can say. It does not deserve the score it currently has (8.1).

On the other hand if your the kind of person that believes that movies should have no real substance or that you don't understand what that means. Or your the kind of person who just wants to sit back let the movie play and wash over you while munching popcorn and having a conversation, then this film is excellent!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

muldjordJan 20, 2020

I'll give it a 7 for the first hour. Then it was all downhill from there. I had no idea what was going on and the movie relied too heavily on dumb luck for any progression to be made.
It felt like the actors were even more confused than II'll give it a 7 for the first hour. Then it was all downhill from there. I had no idea what was going on and the movie relied too heavily on dumb luck for any progression to be made.
It felt like the actors were even more confused than I was. I'm guessing they had no idea in what context they were acting either as the script is so filled with pointless things that are never explained. And it ends with a whimper, so the pay-off never comes.

Absolute waste of time. Snooze-fest.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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3

BroyaxAug 9, 2018

J'aime bien ce Denis Villeneuve, si, si, je vous assure : il est l'un des rares metteurs en scène à ne pas mettre en scène n'importe comment ; "techniquement", il ne filme jamais comme une andouille, ne secoue pas ses caméras, soigne sesJ'aime bien ce Denis Villeneuve, si, si, je vous assure : il est l'un des rares metteurs en scène à ne pas mettre en scène n'importe comment ; "techniquement", il ne filme jamais comme une andouille, ne secoue pas ses caméras, soigne ses plans, sa photographie et tutti quanti. Oui, à notre époque, cela doit être mentionné et on se doit de donner une mention à Denis Villeneuve.

Certes, il est peut-être un peu lent dans sa réalisation mais ce n'est pas vraiment un défaut, loin s'en faut... sauf quand ça touche la narration elle-même (il ya des limites à tout). Ce qui ne veut pas dire qu'il ne fait pas de la merde de temps à autre et peut-être un peu trop souvent que d'habitude, car jusqu'ici à part Incendies que je n'ai pas vu, on ne peut pas dire qu'il excelle. Heureusement, Sicario est l'exception (qui confirme la règle sans doute).

Or, donc ce Prisoners n'est pas bon ! Pourtant, ça devrait l'être avec cette belle mise en scène, cette excellente distribution (tout le monde est très bien, vraiment, y compris le bourrin Jackman) et une histoire à la Zodiac qui finit par se décanter, éventuellement...

Deux heures et demi à peu près, le film dure deux heures et demi et on tombe régulièrement sur des trous dans le récit, des omissionsen pagaille et des ellipses... j'avoue ne pas comprendre comment il fait le père Denis ! il faudrait demander au scénariste qui m'a l'air à côté de ses pompes.

Je disais que Denis est souvent un peu lent mais là aussi, on se demande comment il a fait pour étaler si peu de choses sur une aussi grande tartine, car franchement en une heure quarante, ça pouvait être plié ce bordel à cul qui multiplie les fausses pistes, les faux suspects et les vrais coupables.

Malgré son ambiance appréciable, froide et humide, Prisoners est diantrement laborieux et singulièrement désordonné... et décidément trop l-e-n-t. On comprend qu'il veuille développer sa partie psychologique mais ça passe mal à la digestion. Surtout qu'il élude bien des choses ! mais peut-être que son projet initial durait neuf heures, qui sait ?

Si j'étais toi, Denis, je virerai ce scénariste en tout cas et je remettrais les points sur les i et les barres sur les t : je crois qu'il te prend pour un jambon. Et nous avec, par la même occasion.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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3

MaurDLMar 19, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In Somewhere Pennsylvania, a town where no one locks their doors or windows, there is an inexplicable kidnapping epidemic. A pair of negligible parents are then sent into dismay when their daughters wind up mysteriously missing.

The protagonist, a belligerent father, continually antagonizes the detective-with-a-compulsive-blinking-problem that is trying to help him, while his distraught wife does drugs all day, every day. He then proceeds to abduct, imprison and brutally torture the prime suspect after a lack of evidence renders him incapable of conceiving any other alternatives.

The question of the film centers around the location of the missing children yet, despite his increasingly cruel variations of torture yielding no results over several days, the thought never crosses his mind to ask (or check) if they're at the suspect's home.

Even after a culprit is apprehended, the father continues his exercise in madness until his victim, himself abducted as a child, has to tell him the obvious and directs him to search in the first place he should have looked.

Deranged (and drunk), the father goes to the home where his daughter is being held, donning his best handyman disguise. Intent on bungling the rescue of his child, he then places himself in a compromising position, allowing the true villain to (ironically?) imprison him, before the utterly inept authorities arrive to finish what he couldn't.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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2

andarial6670Sep 13, 2016

Acting: 8/10
Plot: 0/10
Well-Directed: 0/10 Overall: 2/10 This is a two and a half hour joke that doesn't have a good punchline. It's the worst kind of mystery/suspense/thriller: the kind that has plotholes that are neither explainedActing: 8/10
Plot: 0/10
Well-Directed: 0/10
Overall: 2/10

This is a two and a half hour joke that doesn't have a good punchline. It's the worst kind of mystery/suspense/thriller: the kind that has plotholes that are neither explained nor necessary, early obvious cues that foreshadow too much of the rest of the movie, and....is far too long.

Here is the entire premise of this two and a half hour drivel summarized in one sentence: "After our child died, we started kidnapping other peoples' kids to counter God's wrath".… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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2

ariel84Mar 11, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. i watched this because i miss "true detective". thought it might have a similar vibe. wrong. it's tricked out schlock.. hugh jackman overacts loudly and badly, the red herrings pile up, and the absolute worst is that paul dano is tortured horrifically and, in the end, the film wants us to believe it'll all be ok for him in the end. ugh. avoid.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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1

amysusernameSep 21, 2013

I absolutely hated this movie.
Judging by the critic reviews, it only got a high score from them because it's pretty and the style is interesting, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that all the user scores are so high.
II absolutely hated this movie.
Judging by the critic reviews, it only got a high score from them because it's pretty and the style is interesting, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that all the user scores are so high.

I will admit that it's a visually pleasing movie, but not only does the mediocre plot drag on forever, it also relies on cheap tricks (like the plot "twist" near the end) and doesn't fill the expectations built up in the trailer (the truth behind the story was completely unbelievable)

And even though most people seem to think the characters are well thought through, all I saw was tropes. Hugh Jackman's character is the ruthless badass who'd do anything to protect his child, his wife is a stereotypical mother, doing nothing but crying for her lost child.
Detective Loki is the excellent detective with no social life, and the villains are your cookie cutter Hollywood serial killers.
Joy's parents seemed to be the only characters who weren't one dimensional, yet they had some of the least screen time.

One could argue that it's more about the message than the story itself, but an interesting message doesn't make up for a drab plot and poor character design.… Expand

14 of 49 users found this helpful1435

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0

amazex203Feb 14, 2014

This movie rating is too high .i'm tries too make it appropriate by give this score.
i felt really disappointed because the plot of it much weaker than most of each TV series like Sherlock , Blacklist , mentalist , criminal mind.
but i'mThis movie rating is too high .i'm tries too make it appropriate by give this score.
i felt really disappointed because the plot of it much weaker than most of each TV series like Sherlock , Blacklist , mentalist , criminal mind.
but i'm accepted only for the good performance of artiste.
in my opinion this movie doesn't deserve good score because story is too bad, too common.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Spoiler alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
especially the last scene is unacceptable it's too stupid Hugh Jackman die for nothing… Expand

2 of 10 users found this helpful28

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0

new_moonMar 31, 2014

this movie is Absolute waste of time .. i am so sorry for mark Wahlberg ..this movie is so much worse than movie 43. i am glad that i did not waste my money and downloaded it for free

0 of 28 users found this helpful028

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0

hyunwest123Mar 5, 2022

hated the story. the mystery was disappointing when revealed and the story is suffocating/depressing imo. didnt quite like the characters either, they were all super angsty and really annoying.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Prisoners

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