Thought it would be best to start off this series of film reviews with my personal top-rated film.
Prisoners (2013), Dir. Denis Villeneuve
Prisoners (2013), Dir. Denis Villeneuve
Plot | Script
Perhaps one of the most intricately written pieces that delves into the themes of grief, sin, revenge and family.
An emotionally charged film that shows the extreme measures that fathers Keller Dover and Franklin Birch [Hugh Jackman & Terrence Howard] are willing-
Perhaps one of the most intricately written pieces that delves into the themes of grief, sin, revenge and family.
An emotionally charged film that shows the extreme measures that fathers Keller Dover and Franklin Birch [Hugh Jackman & Terrence Howard] are willing-
-to take for the search of their kidnapped daughters.
The script delves into the concepts of moral ambiguity and ethical - or unethical - dilemmas that add the suspenseful and gradual escalation of the film.
The script delves into the concepts of moral ambiguity and ethical - or unethical - dilemmas that add the suspenseful and gradual escalation of the film.
We see the nature of each of the aforementioned fathers at the beginning of the film. Keller - a prepper, a survivalist - who stock piles on all of what one man is able to gather (canned food, water, gas masks…etc.) with the goal of being ready for any world-threatening event-
-that would lead to the “apocalypse.” He lectures his son, Ralph (Dylan Minnette), on how one should strive for survival. This man was already on survival mode, long before the kidnapping even happened.
This father-to-son lecture comes after a calm, slow, silent, and snowy opening of Keller teaching his son the sport of hunting game, paired with vocal Bible verses, which already shows that Keller comes from a religiously-practicing background.
Keller’s multiple personas clashed during the film’s climax: a practicing man performing sinful acts, not innately evil nor innocent and sympathetic. He is merely a father who believes that he is doing whatever it takes to find his daughter.
Franklin on the other hand, to me, serves as Keller’s silenced moral conscience. He starts out with extreme opposition against Keller’s actions after he abducts Alex [Paul Dano] - following Keller’s hopelessness with the police - yet slowly accepting that this was the only way.
Franklin, revealed to be a man of high values, feels tormented and haunted by being Keller’s accomplice in Alex’s kidnapping. Eventually, this internal conflict clashes as he breaks down and outs the truth to his wife, Nancy [Viola Davis].
Detective Loki, already seemed to be overloaded with a tough relationship with his cop-boss and job; he also begins to receive overwhelming pressure from Keller after the daughters’ kidnapping.
Loki seems to be already fighting with some past inner demons, which begin to appear as Keller’s pressure worsens and the kidnapping puzzle becomes trickier as the film progresses. The situation becomes more challenging for him due to the fact that he now has to-
-solve the kidnapping and find the daughters, all while trying to control and maintain the merciless beast that escaped Keller.
The film becomes a race, a battle between the two of who’s faster to solve this case.
The film becomes a race, a battle between the two of who’s faster to solve this case.
A worried father whose actions became aggressive, sinful, and out of control… or a man of the law who is already tensed by the events that unfolded?
Acting
It’s safe to say that all actors in this film delivered. Outstanding performances that simply made all characters extremely valuable to each scene.
From Paul Dano’s excellent embodiment of Alex, an intellectually disabled individual “with the IQ of a 10 year old”
It’s safe to say that all actors in this film delivered. Outstanding performances that simply made all characters extremely valuable to each scene.
From Paul Dano’s excellent embodiment of Alex, an intellectually disabled individual “with the IQ of a 10 year old”
To Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of the keeping-your-calm-when-you’re-actually-fuming-inside-character, who also improvised an eye twitch that is vivid throughout the film to touch on the overloaded stress Loki is under...
To the loud, mad, and disturbed Keller by Hugh Jackman who served as Gyllenhaal’s contrast in the film.
He perfectly embodies what a father whose child has been kidnapped would do.
(Needless to say Hugh is my favorite actor, I’ll just leave it at that)
He perfectly embodies what a father whose child has been kidnapped would do.
(Needless to say Hugh is my favorite actor, I’ll just leave it at that)
To talk about range is to talk about Viola Davis. The delivery of the emotions of a strong and daring mother who is simultaneously in deep agony will always be a top of the line performance.
Cinematography | Mise-En-Scene
Perhaps one of my favorite elements of this film is the raw realism it provided when it comes to how its shot and lit.
First, a huge appreciation to the 16:9 ratio in the film. One would think that a tense film like this would hold a 4:3 or 2.35
Perhaps one of my favorite elements of this film is the raw realism it provided when it comes to how its shot and lit.
First, a huge appreciation to the 16:9 ratio in the film. One would think that a tense film like this would hold a 4:3 or 2.35
- but not at all, this tense situation was beautifully contrasted by the choice of keeping the film in full frame.
What I really appreciate is the utilisation of shots through dirty windows that hint at upcoming tension.
As contrasted by this one clean window shot when Keller goes to meet and “reconcile” with Alex’s not-aunt. We are still unaware of who she is and what she means to the plot, hence the clean window; at least that’s my perspective on this.
Of course, a trademark of Villeneuve being the silhouette shots visible in all of his films. The places in which these shots were used were chosen perfectly.
The essence of mystery and eerieness followed these shots in every scene. They made you want to know more.
The essence of mystery and eerieness followed these shots in every scene. They made you want to know more.
One visual element that really stuck with me was the use of shallow depth of field with the focus on the foreground.
The shots that were chosen to have this effect used adde depth, sort of a deeper meaning that something is happening or will happen.
The shots that were chosen to have this effect used adde depth, sort of a deeper meaning that something is happening or will happen.
Another pattern I’ve noticed is Deakins’ and Villeneuve’s decision to emphasize on space.
The characters and objects appear small to me throughout the films when such shots are used. It’s like they keep hinting at the idea that there’s always a bigger picture.
The characters and objects appear small to me throughout the films when such shots are used. It’s like they keep hinting at the idea that there’s always a bigger picture.
Editing
If there’s anything that enhanced the feeling of mystery and thriller in this film, it’s the editing.
Starting with the usage of this filler track-in shot between two situations in the film: the calm & warm Thanksgiving dinner vs the moment the girls are lost.
If there’s anything that enhanced the feeling of mystery and thriller in this film, it’s the editing.
Starting with the usage of this filler track-in shot between two situations in the film: the calm & warm Thanksgiving dinner vs the moment the girls are lost.
Additionally in this scene of random frames - not really - showing the investigation of the RV.
These shots over non-diegetic narration further enhance the sense of something off.
These shots over non-diegetic narration further enhance the sense of something off.
And not to mention of course the fast cuts in the final scene as Loki rushes to the hospital. This scene is pure anxiety.
Finally, sound and music.
Sound design and the music really complemented all of the above. It completed the package of a perfect film.
Sound design and the music really complemented all of the above. It completed the package of a perfect film.
The music depended on high-frequency long notes paired with bass constant notes. This contrast is what created the 4-dimensional feeling of thriller that were emitted from the screen. Especially during the single tree shot and RV editing montage mentioned above.
As for sound design, I really appreciated the realism behind it. The rain, the awkward silences in the interrogation scenes, the way Keller’s anger and yelling was preserved and allowing the audience to feel its fibrations.
The heavy-duty action scenes that were also paired with moments silence that allowed natural sounds to appear. These elements also further and further enhanced this film.
Watch this film and you will understand why I absolutely adore it and why I’ll always enjoy it, as if watching it for the first time.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
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