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Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week.

Prisoners
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Paul Dano, Melissa Leo, and Maria Bello
Synopsis: “Prisoners” begins with every parent’s worst nightmare. It’s Thanksgiving, a time of family and celebration. Then two little girls go missing. There are a lot of ways that a film with this set up can go, and “Prisoners” explores them all. It is a dark film, with a lot of nuanced plot twists. It’s a long film and it’s hard to watch. While there are some great performances, one can’t help but wonder what the ultimate goal was for writer Aaron Guzikowski. Was it that we’re all trapped here on earth with people filled with darkness? Was it that there’s darkness within us all? That’s one question the film never answers in its 154 minute run time. This film has a moody and gritty feel, which is likely a credit to director Denis Villeneuve. The location, settings and way the story is filmed add a degree of angst and hopelessness to the production. Given the content of the story, that is intentional. “Prisoners” also twists in a few unexpected directions, which provides a nice pay off after such a long film. That isn’t to say the ending is flawless — it’s not — just better than you might expect given the trajectory of the film during its second act. “Prisoners” has a talented cast, many of whom are past Academy Award nominees or winners. And they dive into the material with gusto. All the performances from the lead adults are finely tuned and serve the story well. These are meaty and interesting roles, for the most past, but in service of a difficult story. Therein lies the problem. “Prisoners” presents a grim world and a seemingly grim worldview. Then it adds a layer of misguided religion over the top that feels icky. It’s a rough movie to sit through and it’s hard to identify a true protagonist. It challenges you to consider how you would respond to a similar situation. There are aspects of the film that work well, but that doesn’t make it any more enjoyable. There is a lot going on here and none of it is good. The slow burn to the climax doesn’t help matters, and the audience doesn’t get much in the way of answers or a satisfying resolution. There are some clever things done and “Prisoners” features some strong performances. But for most people its subject matter and execution will be too grim to enjoy any of it.
Rating: R for disturbing violent content, including torture, and language throughout. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, September 27 — "Rush," "Don Jon," "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2," "Baggage Claim"