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Prisoners

Prisoners

2013
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 33m
When Keller Dover's daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?
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Prisoners

2013
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 33m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 66.5% from 6064 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(6064)
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Rated 12 Dec 2013
85
94th
The direction and the performances are absolutely amazing. I don't usually go for big acting, but it worked for me in this movie. If there's anything wrong with it it's that, in the end, it perhaps doesn't live up completely to its full potential. But even though that might mean that it misses the mark (and only barely so) of becoming an instant contemporary classic, it's still the best crime thriller in recent memory and one of my favorite films of the year.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
85
89th
I don't know if how drained and shitty I feel is because of my life or this movie or seeing this movie while living my life but damn, this is just a serial gut punch made all the more intense by it's run time, which you feel because of the weight of the whole thing. Hugh Jackman can be absolutely terrifying but also draws extreme empathy even when you question or condemn his actions. Roger Deakins makes everything look amazing.
Rated 02 Oct 2018
86
88th
Very suspenseful and sometimes terrifying look at child abduction and murder. A father searches for his missing daughter and will go to any length to retrieve her. The ultimate devil in the story was unlikely and reeked of sensationalism, but was not beyond the realm of possibility. Excellent acting and many exciting moments. Excellent music and production quality. Overall, a difficult movie to enjoy due to its horrific premise, but well made and worth watching.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
82
80th
Calling it emotionally draining is probably an understatement. There is virtually no shred of happiness in this harrowing tale that manages to stay in the realms of plausible. Jackman gives us his best while the rest of the cast is very effective. Paul Dano succeeds in being awfully creepy while spouting only a few lines.
Rated 03 Jan 2014
80
86th
Does to the thriller genre what Winter's Bone did to the noir. Between the stellar acting, immersive Americana feel and fantastic scrip, the formalistic structure underneath is mostly hidden well away. Towards the end the tropes of the genre does begin to peak out, and as a result the climax becomes less powerful than the movie deserved. Still: a truly great thriller.
Rated 16 Nov 2017
92
99th
Went under the radar for me for a while and a buddy and I, seeing nothing else of interest in the theater decided to give it a shot. "Prisoners" is a suffocating and effective thriller that pulls no punches. Gyllenhaal is usually a wild card and Jackman spent too much time as Wolverine for me to expect much from either of them, but they blew it out of the park. Dano breaks the "never go full retard" rule, but comes out on top. If you check it out, you'll hardly notice the 150 minute run time.
Rated 17 Nov 2021
89
80th
By transporting Nordic noir's aesthetics to the States it says something about American values--like being a Christian prepper. Technically it's well-made. Jackman and Gyllenhaal are great at playing two fiercely dedicated men. The bleak worldbuilding shows a hint of Villeneuve's later sci-fi. And the atmospheric score makes me sad that I'll never hear new Jóhann Jóhannsson music. Even with a clumsy final shot this is recommended and an ideal double bill with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
85
85th
If you asked me if I thought I was going to like it, I absolutely would have said yes. But if you told me that it was going to be one of my favorite movies this year, I probably wouldn't have believed you. I thought this was borderline-masterful. It builds suspense really well, proves that you don't need horrific violence to be uncomfortable, boasts awesome performances, is directed and shot superbly, and hits some real highs without submitting to bad tropes or stupidity. MAJOR props.
Rated 26 Sep 2013
80
78th
Though Prisoners doesn't exactly tread any new grounds and the last minute twist feels a little cheap, the film still rivets for most of its 150 minutes running time by grounding the thriller in foreboding dread and emotional complexity as the characters grapple with the psychological and spiritual fallout. Jackman and Gyllenhaal do good work and Roger Deakins is up to his usual excellent standard.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
70
86th
Feels like the offspring of Zodiac and Se7en. A dramatic, frustratingly unsuccessful search for a criminal, punctuated by truly disturbing and tense moments. It's a testament to the plotting that it manages to remain thrilling despite the runtime and the introspective mood. And though it is not in fact a David Fincher film, the director's eye for visuals is more than matched by Roger Deakins' cinematography, which is superb as usual.
Rated 13 Nov 2013
80
96th
Peter Jackson should watch this and then re-make "The Lovely Bones".
Rated 17 Nov 2013
9
93rd
My favorite movie of 2013 so far. Hugh Jackman is dynamic, Gyllenhaal is great and Melissa Leo sufficiently creeped me the hell out. The best thing I can say about this is that it's 2 and a half hours but feels like 1. Looking forward to more Villeneuve movies
Rated 22 Dec 2013
73
88th
Beautifully filmed and acted, but the story is off. This causes some pacing problems. Still well worth seeing.
Rated 22 Jan 2014
80
70th
Hugh Jackman shows us that a determined, god fearing, WASP is always right and will always solve the case in front of the lazy, good-for-nuthin, doughnut-eating bureaucrats down at the station. That the laws of man will bend around his righteous hunches and that the end always justifies the means when you're 100% right from the get-go. Also: Paul Dano and Jake Gyllenhall work wonders with very little to work with.
Rated 23 Sep 2013
60
23rd
One of those movies that seems pretty good while being viewed, only to derail in the final moments to the point that you walk away completely underwhelmed. It's well directed, has great lensing by famed cinematographer Roger Deakins, and has an A-list cast knocking out superb work (excluding a one-note performance by Hugh Jackman), but the writing is riddled with cliches. All the acting and above-the-line craft mean nothing when the script is soulless and so contrived.
Rated 09 Oct 2013
90
92nd
I've never seen Mr Pibb used for such evil.
Rated 13 Nov 2013
80
88th
Refreshing to watch an old fashioned whodunit-film that had a very Fincher-esque feeling about it all. Had it just dared to be more of a head-in-a-box-movie it could have been up there with the likes of Se7en and Zodiac.
Rated 21 Nov 2013
1
4th
short version: the most overlong, self-serious, writerly pile of generic shit since THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES. even deakins can't rescue this one.
Rated 10 Dec 2013
7
65th
Solid but at the end of the day, it just made me want to watch "Zodiac".
Rated 21 Dec 2013
93
75th
It's pretty long, but it doesn't feel like it to me (probably because I've seen it more than twice). The acting is all great, with a powerhouse performance from Jackman and a solid turn from Gyllenhaal. The dark tone, solid directing, and beautiful cinematography help it out as well. The story kept me guessing and didn't go in any directional I thought too much on. I thought this was well made all around. Definitely worth watching.
Rated 15 Jan 2014
80
73rd
The first act is a bit messy: it sets the tone just right, but doesn't succeed in avoiding all the clichés. Howewer, the script triumphs in the end, and Dennis Villeneuve deserves credit for his great pacing and smooth, tight direction. Throw in some fine performances, splendid cinematography and you've got yourself a nicely tense drama.
Rated 16 Feb 2014
70
55th
A far from exciting finale and the unnecessary length drag it down, but all in all this was pretty decent dramathriller fare. A few moments gave Fincher flashbacks, might've been the Gyllenhaal connection though. Hm. That could be a movie. The Gyllenhaal Connection. Please don't steal that thoroughly dumb idea. I called dibs!
Rated 17 Jul 2014
40
26th
All involved no doubt worked hard, and it is possible to discern some complexity in the characterisation, but this really is junk material.
Rated 05 Nov 2014
88
97th
Had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, a gripping thriller; well done.
Rated 23 Jul 2017
84
67th
The well-acted and beautifully shot Prisoners, while dark and unrelenting, is an effective thriller with an engaging mystery that makes for absorbing viewing.
Rated 31 Oct 2017
87
90th
Great, great movie. Believable performances and lotsa keepin' you guessing. I thought I disliked Gyllenhaal but he was Blade Runner-ready in this one. Less overtly flashy shots and cinematography than in his two previous films, but very nice nevertheless; easy to see why Villeneuve got the BR gig. Week-later edit: I totally didn't realize that was Hugh Jackman. Genuinely thought it was a Hugh Jackman-type actor whose name I didn't know. Huh.
Rated 24 Mar 2018
5
92nd
*Spoiler alert! This is why I like to watch movies, because sometimes you come around one of these. Solid entertainment, great acting (!), enough unpredictability and a cliffhanger ending. Long? Yes. Did I get bored? No. One question though. Why did Joy think that she had seen Mr Dover at the abduction? *Very good.
Rated 13 Jan 2023
77
83rd
After all we had gone through, I absolutely lost my mind when they revealed Jake Gyllenhaal had had an identical twin brother the whole time. Amazing.
Rated 21 Sep 2013
60
28th
First half very good but deteriorates from there with artificially drawn out realizations, a weak plot, and especially the approach to the "climax" when Jackman inexplicably takes off from the hospital on his own.
Rated 21 Sep 2013
86
77th
The kidnapping of two suburban children drives a father (Hugh Jackman) to desperate acts, while the detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles with a dearth of evidence. Long, grueling thriller, with an excellent sense of place and season and a finely sketched portrait of suspicion and obsession. That it grows predictable in the third act is all the more frustrating, but it's a commendable work nonetheless. Fine performances, with surprisingly understated work from Paul Dano; good cinematography.
Rated 25 Sep 2013
85
90th
I was reminded of the Lovely Bones in this movie, and I felt this one succeeded not only better but in different areas that the Lovely Bones didn't go. It was thrilling, nerve-racking, unpredictable, and depressing. The movie was well acted, and the ending while maybe unsatisfying for some, it fit the theme. Only complaints I have; the script seemed to have some weak dialogue for Gyllenhaal throughout which leads me to this...there was way too much laughter in my theater, which was appalling.
Rated 25 Sep 2013
2
59th
Could have been great. Sadly it isn't. Its main problem is the script, as it is too cliched and a little too many coincidences. Guzikowski's draft should have had a major overhaul, by a more experienced writer. Alas, it isn't so. Deakins is great as always, so are Gyllenhaal and Jackman. Overall quite alright, but as I stated above it could have been great.
Rated 28 Sep 2013
25
61st
"Possibly year's most immaculate-looking drivel, a prismatically shot whodunit abundant in red herrings, but lacking in moral contemplation." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 02 Oct 2013
4
51st
The cinematography by the always-impressive Roger Deakins is the only aspect of this rather stupid thriller that's the least bit memorable. Reminded me of Mystic River in a lot of ways, especially in its utter failure to elevate its cliched origins with the most trite moral principles.
Rated 02 Oct 2013
4
70th
A thriller that manages to take a familiar, well-trod plot and throw a few wrenches into the gears, elevating it from solid entertainment to ambiguous morality tale. Excellent performances big and small (Paul Dano is perfect as the primary suspect), and Roger Deakins' cinematography is as excellent as ever - how does this guy not have an Oscar? Oh yeah, the voters are morons.
Rated 03 Oct 2013
79
54th
Don't kidnap Wolverine's kids, dumbass.
Rated 03 Oct 2013
78
86th
"Prisoners" managed to hit a sweet spot for me that very few mystery stories accomplish. The film drops enough hints about the true nature of events that the reveals make complete sense when they happen without being too obvious early on. The acting is great all around and the atmosphere is suitably bleak through Deakins' lens. A tense experience that also manages some ethical questions. Is there such a thing as too far when it comes to trying to save your child's life? Is that line crossed?
Rated 10 Oct 2013
85
77th
I really liked Jake Gyllenhaal's haircut.
Rated 19 Oct 2013
75
46th
a gritty and intenseful crime drama with engaging storyline,yet its also overlong and relentless in reaching the boiling point. the premise is solid with both leading man of mainstream appeal did a fine job in portraying each character dilemma. unfortunately, it was tiredly trying to keep the mystery interesting with back and forth subplots that almost felt tedious.though "Prisoners" still remain a clever and endearing thriller.
Rated 24 Oct 2013
80
85th
Despite the conventional set-up and the somewhat muddled resolution, "Prisoners" remains a superbly realized, unbearably tense thriller. Villeneuve, though careful mise-en-scène and a clear point of view, manages to make things suspenseful and disturbing almost constantly (a feat for a 150-minute film) while the script keeps the viewer guessing and hints at more complex emotional issues as well. Jackman is exceptional, while Gyllenhaal, Dano, Davis and the rest are also very strong.
Rated 27 Oct 2013
70
82nd
Good film.
Rated 19 Nov 2013
84
77th
Man, those Gyllenhaal eye ticks drive me crazy. He's good, though, and so is Jackman, providing alternate perspectives on a harrowing investigation. The greatest strength is the way the mystery gets pieced together, it's all very messy and, while the film gives us resolution and all the pieces, it trusts the viewer to put things together and refrains from overt catharsis.
Rated 08 Dec 2013
69
70th
Delivers an engaging crime story for 100 minutes, but loses its momentum in the end. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal are on top of their game.
Rated 09 Dec 2013
83
93rd
Reminded me of some of the Korean thrillers I've seen, which is a great compliment. It opens a lot of threads and alternates pulling at each, keeping it moving along quickly and never boring the audience even at its length.
Rated 10 Dec 2013
85
85th
The story has just the right amount of turns and Villeneuve does an excellent job with the suspense.
Rated 14 Dec 2013
70
73rd
A pure, unfiltered piece of pain and misery. It's a shame it was snubbed of a nomination for the Golden Globe for Best Musical/Comedy.
Rated 17 Dec 2013
85
89th
Hugh Jackman is once again amazing; in fact all of the acting in Prisoners is superb. The film is very well made, with a slow-paced menacing tone. It is not an easy watch, but a very rewarding one. The ending is a bit of an anticlimax, but it doesn't ruin this great dark thriller.
Rated 29 Dec 2013
84
89th
The strange name of the movie's got several meanings during the story. Well played and greatly build thriller.
Rated 19 Jan 2014
80
63rd
It died a bit towards the ending. Good movie that just missed the mark of being a great one. In the words of the great TS Elliott "This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper."
Rated 20 Jan 2014
85
73rd
Well balanced, told and acted. But, damn, I hate open endings.
Rated 20 Jan 2014
80
78th
Solid thriller that seemed to fly under the radar for the most part in 2013. Looks great and the squadron of actors are all in top form. There are 1 or 2 circumstantial plot points that do a disservice to what is a solid script and the final scene is a bit of an eye-roller. Despite these small complaints it does an impressive job of being gripping for 150 minutes considering many movies can't be interesting for 90.
Rated 27 Jan 2014
70
56th
A film that seems to be built on a pyramid of red herrings. Unfortunately, finding out who dun it is such a let down that it drags the whole movie kicking and screaming into near mediocrity at the end. The "surprise" plot twist was pretty dumb and unnecessary. It would have been much more interesting for the film to be about the descent into depravity of Jackman's blue collar character. Gyllenhaal with his nervous tic, Dano, and Howard all turn in great understated performances.
Rated 27 Jan 2014
62
28th
Mental note: Do not trust anyone who puts this in the same league as Zodiac or Mystic River.
Rated 09 Feb 2014
70
67th
There's lots to admire in this moody and brooding mystery thriller, ranging from the solid performances (Dano and Gyllenhaal both stand out), to the slick direction and camerawork. It's a shame the mystery holds no surprises and there's a scene about a third of the way in that will enable many to fit the pieces together very easily. I felt it could have comfortably lost 20 minutes from its runtime too and felt a little baggy towards the end. Still very much worth checking out though.
Rated 08 Mar 2014
82
87th
Maintains tension from the kidnapping and does not ease until the credits. Jake is a top performer here with Hugh pushing it hard as the passionate father.
Rated 13 May 2014
70
71st
The pacing in this movie is quite good, also the acting, plot twists and suspense. It's a very enjoyable suspense film, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but it's certainly above average
Rated 16 Jul 2014
78
56th
More morally ambiguous and less predictable than your typical missing daughter/dad-on-the-hunt thriller. I never could guess where the movie was headed at any given point - a huge testament to Aaron Guzikowski's script. The performances were excellent, especially Jackman. And whoever thought to cast Paul Dano in his role should win some sort of casting award. I did feel there were just a few too many plot threads when all was said and done, but not enough to make me dislike the film.
Rated 16 Aug 2014
80
65th
It's unsettling when such a bleak film looks so good on the screen. It's impeccably shot. It's also a fairly fresh look at a very familiar storyline. It avoids cliches and paints a morally dubious picture. It is an example of where the mystery is more satisfying than the revelation, but when the mystery is as strong and twisted as this, that's not that huge of a detraction.
Rated 05 Oct 2014
71
90th
Usually a thriller is a collection of false trails that fall away to nothing in a way that makes you feel that it's just spinning the wheels. This avoids that, it's dense and well-crafted. The only faults are that the start is perhaps a little slow.
Rated 10 Dec 2014
90
96th
This is a fantastically well done film. The script is original and well done the entire way. Both Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman give outstanding performances and the rest of the cast are also excellent. I can not wait to watch another film by the director Denis Villeneuve. I highly recommend this exciting suspense film.
Rated 07 Jun 2015
80
68th
The big third-act exposition dump is pretty bad, and reveals the plot, which was already getting a bit ridiculous, to be really god damn trashy. But Villeneuve's direction rises above it for the most part, being tense, atmospheric (although more grimdark "life is pain, the world is full of monsters" than a modern DC comic book movie), and compelling. This score is probably more than the dumb script deserves, but god damn it's a pleasure to watch. Great ending, too.
Rated 30 Nov 2015
84
77th
Good, intense, thriller that delivers on all aspects. Gyllenhaal with yet another solid performance.
Rated 04 Jan 2016
94
56th
A very good thriller. Jake Gyllenhaal nails his role, he can play a cop/detective as good as anyone.
Rated 18 Oct 2016
75
86th
very good movie
Rated 03 Feb 2017
70
73rd
The style is cold; the protagonists have a genuine struggle. Fantastic Gyllenhaal performance.
Rated 11 Mar 2017
30
74th
Almost as good as it is long.
Rated 23 Jun 2017
85
93rd
This movie is terrifying. I feel like it would be inappropriate to rave too much about its cinematic qualities because of how seriously and respectfully it treats its characters and story. It sucked me in from the beginning and spat me out a slightly more melancholic and cautious person. To my taste, it speeds up and twists around a little bit too much towards the end, losing some of the groundedness that makes the story so engaging. Nevertheless, Prisoners is a draining and captivating watch.
Rated 09 Aug 2017
77
84th
Two excellent performances by Jackman and Gyllenhaal, a story drowned in adult fear and competent direction make Prisoners a great thriller that never lets go.
Rated 24 Jan 2018
78
70th
Well made but overly contrived- though it works as the b-movie villain/s are hardly a source of terror, instead it's the would-be protagonist/s.
Rated 22 Feb 2018
74
64th
If you're not sober while watching this, you might develop paranoia. And a major disgust for people and the inherent cruelty of mankind. Just saying.
Rated 17 Aug 2018
57
59th
Good enough to hold my attention, which makes it better than I expected, but not much more. Teases moderately interesting themes only to abandon them in favour of dumb twisties at every opportunity. How can you give a lead character a name as asinine as "Detective Loki" and still proceed as if you're making a gritty true-crime thriller?
Rated 15 Jun 2019
75
57th
Intense, grips you till the end, but there are some questionable plot twists. I mean, they are utilized for a reason and they do their job fine, but better not look at them too close, lest the charm may vanish. Also naming the simpleton "Alex Jones". Really?
Rated 17 Jul 2019
82
78th
Two and a half hours of pure tension. Indeed, this is one of those rare movies that *needs* to be long to appropriately reflect the convoluted, conspiratorial nature of the yarn. Excellent acting (though at times it feels like Gyllenhaal is trying to emulate Agent Cooper from Twin Peaks a little too heavy-handedly) and an exquistely paced script make this flick have an impact reminscent of Gone Girl but with a little more existential oomph.
Rated 13 May 2020
80
74th
Jake Gyllenhaal'in film boyunca 113 kez göz kırpmasına artı 5 puan...
Rated 15 Oct 2023
30
17th
mantık hatası ception. bu kadar saçmalığın içinde saçmalık daha görülmemiştir. niye 30 verdim onu bile bilmiyorum max 20'lik bir film. denis sen yönetmen değil şarlatansın.
Rated 19 Sep 2013
90
97th
Prisoners is a fantastic film. It runs for just over 150 minutes but doesn't drag for even a single moment, it has a complex plot which will keep you guessing for the vast majority of its running time -- and it doesn't cheat in that attempt to bewilder -- it contains fantastic performances, great scenes which will rile you up emotionally, and the ability to make you think about it for days after it ends. It is one of the best films of the year.
Rated 23 Sep 2013
90
80th
What's really sticking with me about this one is Roger Deakins' photography. A rainy New England (or rainy New England stand-in) is turned into this beautifully grey and oppressive world. Also, this totally nails all of the Fincher-esque genre beats with all of its crazy twists and turns. Good performances as well. Overall, don't think I'll find a more satisfying thriller this year.
Rated 26 Sep 2013
88
84th
Normally don't like Jake Gyllenhall but he did a pretty good job.
Rated 29 Sep 2013
97
95th
Prisoners sets up the emotional story by creating haunting visuals that will resonate with you long after this film is over. Jackman is in top form, his emotional range the highlight of ths film. It doesn't take long from him to put on a display that is eerie and downright chilling. Gyllenhaal compliments him nicely by being the quiet detective character who as the film develops finds himself emotionally invested. Prisoners is definitely one of the better films so far in 2013.
Rated 29 Sep 2013
80
77th
A Gripping movie that's let down in by a fairly lame ending. Despite this reservation, I'm still rating it highly, the film sidesteps lots of familiar tropes of the thriller genre and has some really horrifying moments and decent performances. There's one particular scene which throws every "detective trying to bust the big case" back to you which is a shame but these flaws don't hurt the film too much.
Rated 30 Sep 2013
6
70th
I'm still going back and forth on how I felt about the reveals of the final half-hour (one thing's for sure: they prove that some of police work of the first two hours was half-assed), but for most of its runtime this is a gripping nihilistic mystery/thriller with a strong 90s Fincher-y feel to it. Roger Deakins' cinematography, while not "Skyfall" great (god, what movies so far this decade are?), is still great.
Rated 06 Oct 2013
100
51st
very good movie
Rated 07 Oct 2013
35
88th
This movie is a masterpiece. Fantastic acting, Hugh Jackman perfectly portrays the corrupt christian father, Paul Dano disappears in his role, and Jake G gives Loki the detective such a unique character that you'll be left wanting more. Well written with small subtleties that will take a second viewing to really appreciate. Incredible work from Roger Deakins that really helps portray the characters. Definite contender for film of the year.
Rated 07 Oct 2013
86
70th
With a movie like this, it's really all about the story. And that's where Prisoners delivers, above all else. As a devout detractor of bloated and lengthy runtimes, Prisoners earns its shocking 153 minutes through an old-fashioned great story. It's compelling and attention-grabbing yet largely introspective, restrained and yet thrilling, sometimes even bordering on eerie. more @ lbxd
Rated 10 Oct 2013
81
81st
Prisoners is full of suspense, intrigue and ultimately despair--- not the feel-good drama of the year. The material is even somewhat overwrought and heavy-handed but it's still full of great performances. At 2 1/2 hours the movie manages to keep you glued and in the end it is well made. But you will never need to see it again.
Rated 14 Oct 2013
82
62nd
A decent suspense/mystery, but ultimately one that doesn't separate itself from the many boilerplate "someone was kidnapped/murdered, whodunnit?" movies out there. LOVED Hugh Jackman's performance, and while the movie is drawn out it does give an interesting window into the lives of a kidnapee's families and how they cope. Everyone else (include Gyllenhaal as the cop) was mostly average, and the ending goes in too safe of a direction for my taste.
Rated 14 Oct 2013
80
53rd
Slow and suspenseful movie, but it didn't intrigue me. My biggest problem with Prisoners was how slow the detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) was piecing together the clues to who kidnapped the children. For a detective who never failed a case, I would expect faster thinking than that. I did enjoy seeing how the parents changed through the movie, particularly Hugh Jackman's character who nearly loses his mind trying to find his young daughter.
Rated 15 Oct 2013
16
14th
What would have been an ordinary if rather heavy-handed thriller elevated by some above-average performances is ultimately undone by some excruciatingly clunky writing (including the ridiculous ending). Gyllenhaal is really good (as is Dano when he isn't trapped in the torture box... oops spoiler?), Jackman not so much. For a minute i think i was confusing Denis Villeneuve with Baltasar Kormákur, which actually makes sense since this isn't unlike that director's pseudo-arthouse genre slumming.
Rated 17 Oct 2013
88
84th
This subject matter could have been handled in a really trite or bland way, but Villeneuve is exceedingly balanced.
Rated 17 Oct 2013
74
57th
Beautifully filmed and entertaining drama/mystery which raised some interesting moral questions. Good performances, particularly from Jackman and Gyllenhaal. I left the film entertained but somehow felt detached and 'uninvolved'. The main reason for this was the script which was very formulaic. The plot was riddled with cliches, coincidences and predictability and indeed red herrings that somehow, perhaps strangely, failed to engage. The ending was too predictable and lacked emotional clout.
Rated 19 Oct 2013
80
77th
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. The plot kept twisting and made me doubt my original guess on the ending even if it was the right one.
Rated 25 Oct 2013
80
88th
One of the most tense films I have ever seen. Denis Villeneuve's direction is assured; Deakins's photography pitch-perfect; Guzikowski's script great, effortlessly moving to lots of different directions; and the cast good, most notably Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo and, of course, a roaring Hugh Jackman. Not all of the questions are answered and, as a whole, it can get a bit too heavy, but it's a remarkably strong and well-made film. A terrific, big, two-hour-and-a-half-long punch in the stomach.
Rated 26 Oct 2013
78
57th
Some scenes are masterful: The hammer in the wall, that becomes a cross for instance - brilliant idea! But somewhere around the time the 2nd suspect kills himself (while no police man shoots him in the shoulder or something) the movie looses his way and his picture language, fractional at least. And the elegant, subtle symbols are replaced by sentences like "My way of fighting god is to kill children" - and a very nontransparent, dark and intriguing figure implodes right in front of my eyes.
Rated 27 Oct 2013
94
90th
Very impressed with this tense and polished film. I could've sworn while watching it that something this dark and intricate would've been adapted from a novel because you just don't see original screenplays like this anymore, but I'm happily wrong. Every scene has its purpose, every motive makes sense, there's no filler; the film instantly fills its audience with a sense of dread that's palpable without being overbearing; terrific acting - just a laundry list of stuff I loved here.
Rated 28 Oct 2013
3
65th
This is a solid movie, but instead of a very exciting thriller, it became an okay melodrama. Jackman is playing the role of his life, and I love Gyllenhaal as the somewhat banged up cop. Even tough it is a long movie, I never got bored. What bothered me the most, is the fact that they introduced this religious angle, without even really using it. This could have excelled this movie to an amazing thriller. - Good.
Rated 28 Oct 2013
70
37th
It is very entertaining to watch but there is absolutely no depth to any aspect of the story.
Rated 04 Nov 2013
85
87th
Best in class.
Rated 09 Nov 2013
70
53rd
They say a day without laughter is a wasted day. watch this movie and i guarantee you'll spend 3 hours without ever laughing.
Rated 13 Nov 2013
87
81st
many obvious clues are missed during the investigation, but overall it's an incredibly tense story with great acting, beautiful cinematography and Arvo Part like soundtrack
Rated 14 Nov 2013
86
86th
Prisoners might just be the best crime thriller of the past decade. With the unrelenting tension of Se7en, the mystery of Zodiac and the psychological concentration of Memento; it's a must see.

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