Prisoners Catches Your Attention, Only to Keep You Guessing
Ask any parent what their worst nightmare is, and there is a very strong possibility they will respond, “Losing my child.” In situations like that, it often goes without saying that the police will be the people who handle the situation. The police will be the ones who will find and save your child. But this is not an easy process, as one would expect, and Prisoners showcases exactly what can happen when an outraged father takes matters into his own hands when his daughter goes missing. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this film keeps its viewers focused on what’s happening in the present throughout the entire world of the movie; meaning that, you are hearing one scene while watching another, all at the same time. Nominated for Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards in 2014, it’s odd camerawork and subtly intense script combine to create a masterpiece of intriguement, one that leaves you with questions even at the movie’s end.
If you are a person who has a difficult time following multiple perspectives that fall onto the same storyline, whether it be a book or a film, then honestly, Prisoners may not be the movie for you. Because picture this: an interview is taking place, and you only actually see bits and pieces of the people involved, but you hear everything. You hear the words transcribed in the interview as you watch another part of the CSI team investigate a busted-up RV. You hear the words transcribed in the interview as you watch a piece of wood get pounded on by rain. And you hear the words of the interview as the scene cuts back to the interviewer and suspect, right as a significant, bewildering comment is made; and you are left wondering what the hell just happened. This is what happens in this film. The cinematography is flat out out all over the place, but it is a form of organized chaos. It’s strategically pieced together to create the ultimate endless clue, allowing the audience to try to solve the crime right alongside the police. It feels like the audience is now witnessing what is going on in the minds of the fathers of the missing girls (Hugh Jackman and Terrence Howard). Confusing as it may seem, it gives applaudable meaning to every scene, and I believe that it is a crucial aspect of the film, which makes it astonishingly addicting. There’s good reason as to why this film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography; it’s gripping, compelling, and extremely well pieced together. The cuts are seamless, and the fast switches between visual points brings a whole new feel to the typical ‘thriller’ movie.
As I have previously stated, the plot of this movie surrounds two young girls who go missing after going to play together outside. The police, with head Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), have to pull out all the stops to try and find them before it’s too late. It is by far, in my own opinion, Jake Gyllenhaal’s greatest performance in a film, and even though his character is a man of few words, I found myself eager to hear everything he had to say. Known for many movies in which he plays a type of ‘savior’ role, such as The Day After Tomorrow and Everest, Gyllenhaal’s acting is accredited to being all-in and unrelenting; and his work in this film falls nothing short of that. A small thing I noted while watching was that his character possess’ a tick that causes his eyes blink often and uncontrollably, and that in itself sets him apart from other character’s that he has played, sure. But it almost seems as if Detective Loki, even though there are some things in his life that he has no control over, is able to step into any intimidating situation and be in a leading role. Gyllenhaal maintains an eerie stone-cold persona, and it plays off as a form of dominance, something that comes in handy when his character has to confront one of the more aggressive fathers of the missing children, Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman). Hopefully the work he carried out for this film can be transferred over to all of his other endeavors, because the tenacity and control that he showed onscreen was impeccable, and it should not be replaced.
Without a doubt, Prisoners is a movie that encapsulates the unthinkable acts that can be carried out by people as a result of pure terror, whether they be immoral, illegal, or simply unheard of. With a plot that twists and turns to the point that it can be perceived as a knot, and supreme acting that makes the goosebumps pop up on every person watching, this film is something that everyone should experience. It makes one of society’s worst fears become a reality. It’s unthinkable, frightening, and captivating all at once. I want you to witness this film, but first take a deep breath. Because you’re in it until the very end.
