★★★1/2
Denis Villeneuva is relatively unknown on the American film circuit, but with his ultra-suspenseful, stylish and well-paced "modern" film-noir, "Prisonsers," I feel pretty positive that is about to change drastically [especially considering he already has another movie "Enemy" in the works also starring Jake Gyllenhaal].
Longtime friends the Dovers (Hugh Jackman and Maria Bello) and Birches (Terrance Howard and Viola Davis) meet for a small Thanksgiving celebration that quickly turns into chaos. After dinner, the youngest children Joy Birch (Kayla Drew Simmons) and Anna Dover (Erin Gerasimovich) decide to head back to The Dover house to look for a lost toy. When the girls cannot be found a couple of hours later, the oldest children, Eliza Birch (Zoe Borde) and Ralph Dover (Dylan Minnette of "Let Me In") are questioned about what transpired earlier that day when they were all playing together. Both mention a mysterious RV camper that was parked in the neighborhood.
The authorities are notified and Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), along with the entire state police force, begin to look for this RV. Found a few hours later at a Gas Station, the driver, Alex Jones (Pual Dano of "Looper"), is taken into custody and the RV seized for forensic investigation. In the meantime, his Aunt Holly Jones (Melissa Leo of "The Fighter") is notified of the arrest and her home is searched as well. With no leads obtainable in the short 48-hour window an arrest warrant offers, Alex is released to his Aunt's recognizance. Thus ensues the true horror of the movie as Alex becomes subjected to the wrath of Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) until information about his daughter is obtainable.
Not wanting to give too much information away (and ruin the suspenseful premise of the film) I will stop there with the plot-story and focus on the acting.... WOW!!! That truly sums up the movie in one single word. I will say it again WOW!!!!! Hugh Jackman showcases his ability to draw an audience into a movie once again. It has always amazed me that he is so capable an actor that EVERYONE wants to believe in him whether he is Wolverine, Jean Valjean, or a father in the throws of emotional hell (PRISON) searching for his abducted daughter. His commanding screen presence is once again the center of this movie--even with other acting greats alongside him.
That being said, Melissa Leo as Holly Jones plays a nice counterpoint to Hugh Jackma's character. Initially you are sorry for her plight in life as we discover more about her during the lead toward the climax at the hospital, but once the bomb drops--a mushroom cloud of "I DID NOT EXPECT THAT" encompasses the entire theater. I was stunned. Melissa Leo, kudos to you once again--this supporting role was as well cast for you as "The Fighter"!! I'm still in awe.
I hope to see much more of Aaron Guzikowski's films in the future. I especially enjoyed the duality of the title--prisoners as a reference to those taken into custody by the police...and as I alluded to above with Hugh Jackman...people trapped in a prison of their own emotions. Both my wife and I enjoyed Guzikowski's last screenplay ("Contraband" starring Mark Walhberg) --a very under-appreciated, but well written film that just fell into the "1 too many of the same story" category during the 2012 movie year. Give it a try now that the "woman in distress" sequence has had a chance to rest this year.
Ultimately, if you are in the mood for a true suspense movie (in a modern twist on the film noir vein of classic Hollywood) that will leave you guessing even at the end...GO SEE THIS FILM. You will not be disappointed.
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