Prisoners (12/17/2013)

Rated R for disturbing violent content including torture, and language throughout.

Starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano and Terrence Howard

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Prisoners is a top notch, nail-biting, crime-drama that will make you sweat, then race home to hug your kids.

In a rural Pennsylvania town, neighbors and friends, the Dovers and the Birches, gather for Thanksgiving dinner but by the end of the night, their celebration turns to panic when the families’ two youngest daughters go missing. As the hours pass and the girls don’t turn up, it becomes terrifyingly apparent they’ve been kidnapped. After the cops fail to find them, Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) decides to take the law into his own hands, running up against dedicated Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal). But even as Loki is diligently working against the clock to solve the case, Keller will stop at nothing to get their prime suspect to talk before it’s too late.

I have to start with Hugh Jackman who delivers what just might be the most powerful performance of his career. He is very believable as a father who is absolutely desperate and willing to do anything…and I do mean anything…to find his daughter.

I’ve never really been a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal, but after seeing End of Watch, Source Code and now Prisoners, I have to give him props. He is a talented actor and amazing in this film. I just wish they had developed his character a little more. I kept waiting for some secret from his past to surface, but that never happened.

Then there is Paul Dano, who I’m pretty sure will give me nightmares. Not since Hannibal Lecter have I been so completely creeped out by someone on screen. He is scary good.

The rest of the supporting cast play their roles (no matter how big or small) perfectly and give the story more depth.

The script is clever and smart, and takes the audience on an emotional ride packed with twists and turns. I lost count how many times I shifted in my seat because I was anxious, tense and uncomfortable.

Finally, the story is gritty and full of realistic (and terrifying) scenarios. My mind was constantly racing with those “what if that happened to my family” thoughts and it was very unsettling.

There were only two negatives about the film and they are both relatively small. The first is, the film is 2 1/2 hours long…about 30 minutes too long. And the ending could have used a little work. I didn’t hate the ending, but it was a let down compared to the intensity of the rest of the film.

This may not be for everyone, but if you like thrillers, you will love Prisoners. For me it was “Theater Worthy”…now I’m going to hug my kids.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity in this one but the violence is intense and disturbing. Some of the more upsetting scenes involve kidnapping, torture and shootings.

There are close to 30 F-words and several other profanities.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. Keller, his family, and neighbors experienced a horrific series of events. How would you describe the kidnappers’ actions?


2. How would you describe Keller Dover’s actions?


3. Read 1 Peter 3:9
   
   Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
   
   It’s easy to see how Keller did evil things because evil was done to his family, but what does this verse say he should have done?


4. What evil things or insults have you experienced? And how did you respond?


5. How can you respond the next time someone insults or hurts you?