Film Review - Prisoners
Good Morning Fellow Creative types!
Last night I was blessed with advanced screening passes for the movie Prisoners. You may or may not have seen the hype before hand, but man I was not expecting what I saw!
We got to the theater early (as you should since they always over sell!) and waited while the angry mob outside who showed up 10 minutes before the movie started was filed in to fill up the few remaining seats. People have really be wondering about this movie. The people from Jack FM read out a brief note from the director who apologized for not being able to make it out to Vancouver to watch with us and then the previews started!
I have to tell you, this is one of my most favorite things about going to the movies. I am always disappointed a screening when they skip these. Up for previews:
Her - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/ starring Joaquin Phoenix. Now I have never seen this trailer but it made me incredibly sad. Its about a man who gets a new computer/phone (its not clear) and he loads the new operating system which is customized for him by answering a battery of questions. The OS's name is Sarah and he develops an unlikely relationship with her. This is totally on my list to see for January.
Gravity - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/ - starring Sandra Bullock, I have seen this trailer at least a dozen times and it makes me feel so anxious and scared each and every time. I can't wait to see this movie which opens at the end of next week! if you haven't heard it is about an american astronaut working in space who, after an in air collision with debris, is now suddenly untethered and spinning in space.
Next came the main feature - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392214/- a quick summary it was amazingly dark, tense, scary, graphic and weird. If you can handle 2.5 hours of constant tension then come on and see it. Director Denis Villeneuve does a brilliant job of keeping you on the edge of your seat but anxious as you wait for the main character to clue into what you have already figured out. If you can handle some upsetting violence then I would recommend this dark story!
If you have not seen the trailer, two families are having a lovely thanksgiving when their two young daughters decide to go back to the Dover's house to find her little red whistle. Later it is found that the girls have gone missing. A suspect is taken into custody (played by the brilliant Paul Dano) and subsequently released. Mr Dover (played by Hugh Jackman) is not pleased and decides to take justice into his own hands. The lead detective (played by Jake Gyllenhall) is split between finding these girls and dealing with Mr. Dovers erratic behaviour.
Last night I was blessed with advanced screening passes for the movie Prisoners. You may or may not have seen the hype before hand, but man I was not expecting what I saw!
We got to the theater early (as you should since they always over sell!) and waited while the angry mob outside who showed up 10 minutes before the movie started was filed in to fill up the few remaining seats. People have really be wondering about this movie. The people from Jack FM read out a brief note from the director who apologized for not being able to make it out to Vancouver to watch with us and then the previews started!
I have to tell you, this is one of my most favorite things about going to the movies. I am always disappointed a screening when they skip these. Up for previews:
Her - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/ starring Joaquin Phoenix. Now I have never seen this trailer but it made me incredibly sad. Its about a man who gets a new computer/phone (its not clear) and he loads the new operating system which is customized for him by answering a battery of questions. The OS's name is Sarah and he develops an unlikely relationship with her. This is totally on my list to see for January.
Gravity - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/ - starring Sandra Bullock, I have seen this trailer at least a dozen times and it makes me feel so anxious and scared each and every time. I can't wait to see this movie which opens at the end of next week! if you haven't heard it is about an american astronaut working in space who, after an in air collision with debris, is now suddenly untethered and spinning in space.
Next came the main feature - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392214/- a quick summary it was amazingly dark, tense, scary, graphic and weird. If you can handle 2.5 hours of constant tension then come on and see it. Director Denis Villeneuve does a brilliant job of keeping you on the edge of your seat but anxious as you wait for the main character to clue into what you have already figured out. If you can handle some upsetting violence then I would recommend this dark story!
If you have not seen the trailer, two families are having a lovely thanksgiving when their two young daughters decide to go back to the Dover's house to find her little red whistle. Later it is found that the girls have gone missing. A suspect is taken into custody (played by the brilliant Paul Dano) and subsequently released. Mr Dover (played by Hugh Jackman) is not pleased and decides to take justice into his own hands. The lead detective (played by Jake Gyllenhall) is split between finding these girls and dealing with Mr. Dovers erratic behaviour.
*******************THIS IS WHERE THE MINOR SPOILERS COME********************
are you still here?
This movie takes you around the corner, down the hall, up the stairs, down a slide, through a maze and then literally spits you out into a black hole. Its a ride!
Mr. Dover takes matters into his own hands and after witnessing the accused Alex hang a dog in midair till you are suitably frightened and walk down the street singing the song his daughter was singing the night she disappears. Now might be a great time to tell you that Alex, has the IQ of a 10 year old and has been released by the police because he does not have the capacity to do what they alleged he did - take two girls in broad daylight at the same time with no noise, no physical evidence and no struggle.
The torture scenes, as Dover tries to get Alex to tell him where his daughter is, are very difficult to watch. As an audience member at first you kind of feel for Dover, but quickly lose all faith in him as a person. Much like the maze that features prominently in the latter part of the movie, this movie turns back and forth on you. I do believe they could have done the same story without the length and some of the torture!
Another suspect comes into view, which leads this story to its eventual conclusion, but not until after you have already figured it out. There are several full theater gasp moments in this movie, and also a general feeling of wanting to yell at the character on the screen to just "look over there!!!" The ending was fairly unsatisfactory for me as I always hate when you are left with the "what happens now" at the end.
This movie has a star studded cast and they are very under utilized! this story revolves mostly around Mr. Dover and Detective Loki. Maria Bello and Terrance Howard are all but lost in this film which is too bad considering what fantastic actors they are. Paul Dano does an incredible job with his character Alex which is so different from anything I have seen him do! He is incredibly creepy and sad, and I was disappointed that we didn't really find out what happens with his character either.
Hope you enjoyed my review....let me know if you go check it out and if you liked it!
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