Hugh Jackman to star in Prisoners

[Hunter Rider]

Spoiler

No you weren't the only one. Holy crap I thought for sure they were going to crash. The blood on his face, and the weather being terrible, just phenomenal film making there.
I think Joy heard him talking if im not mistaken. She was partially drugged in the other room and heard them talking to each other.
I don't think they were Satanists so much as they were waging a war against God for taking their son away from them. They thought the best way to do that was kidnapping and killing children.

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The way his vision was getting blurrier as he went along I felt sure something was gonna happen, I just hoped that if he crashed a cop was straight on the scene to grab Anna and get her the rest of the way, it was fantastically filmed.

As right, I was thinking last night that the pic of him on the front of the paper was actually later when Loki was in hospital and the headline wads about Keller was still missing, so you're right, that's how she knew he was there and how Keller twigged.

It was the snakes though and waging the war on God, it just felt deeper rooted to me.

I knew that [BLACKOUT]they would be ok[/BLACKOUT] but that was still my favorite scene. It was beautifully shot.

you knew because you'd read the script or because you're smarter than me? I agree it was beatifully shot, the beats were perfect and the tension was a mix of adrenaline and worry, it was in such stark contrast to rest of the films deliberate pace. One of the best editing jobs I've seen as regards a race against time sequence.

 

[redhawk23]

That race against time sequence, with the way it was filmed to mimic the detectives vision fading in and out with the blood and rain, was one of the most intense sequences of any movie this year.

 

[Hunter Rider]

This movie had the best suspense I've seen in a film in a long time. So long I don't remember the last time I was this tense.

It's a caliber of filmmaking I don't see often anymore. Sometimes you see great movies where either the directing, writing or acting is most prevalent. For this film, it is every single component. It delivers on every single level at the best it can be.

Why can't more movies be this good? If that happened, less people would be saying television is the superior format right now.

I think it's just a case that not many scripts are being produced of this type as writers want to get their film made as soon as possible. My Dad is always saying that when we go to the cinema it's nearly always a big action movie and that there are few films made on a bigger scale that are more mature in their content, and my answer has always been that writers need to eat so most are looking to write something more commercially viable.

I agree with you about suspense, certainly in a movie of this type, it's the most gripping I can think of since Seven but with the extra human element that made the film so great.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I mean as much as I've embrace the idea of Affleck now, after watching this, yeah. I've supported Gyllenhaal for the role prior, but after watching this, it strengthens my belief.

That scene when he's watching the playback tape of his interrogation with Alex. Just sitting there silent and contemplative. That is some serious Bruce Wayne in the Batcave **** right there.

Yeah, I agree. Also, the scene where he confronted the priest over what he found in the basement felt very Batman to me. I think he was a bit too young for the role back when he was in consideration for it (Batman Begins) but I think he could own it now.

 

[The Guard]

I thought this was a very well made film, wonderful direction and cinematography, with fantastic performances, especially Jackman and Gyllenhaal, but I didn't really think the script for this was all that impressive. Solid, but felt a bit hodgepodge and the third act was shaky. I felt that it broadcast a couple of its major twists ahead of time, and some of its story connections were iffy.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Apparently it literally broadcast the twist about the

Spoiler

maze necklace

. My girl saw that coming the whole time because they apparently showed it in the trailer. Luckily, I missed that so I didn't see it coming.

 

[danoyse]

Spoiler

I don't think they were Satanists so much as they were waging a war against God for taking their son away from them. They thought the best way to do that was kidnapping and killing children.

Yep.

Spoiler

They lost their own child to cancer, so they took revenge on God by "stealing his children", knowing it would turn their parents into demons that would turn against God.

Which, it pretty much turned Keller, deeply religious as he was, into when he took Alex. Which made it even worse finding out that Alex was really a kidnapped boy who'd taken the girls but hadn't meant them any harm. And that much more powerful when Keller was praying to God for forgiveness at the end by praying for his daughter's safety and not his own.

Damn, this movie was good...

 

[Doctor Jones]

I think it's just a case that not many scripts are being produced of this type as writers want to get their film made as soon as possible. My Dad is always saying that when we go to the cinema it's nearly always a big action movie and that there are few films made on a bigger scale that are more mature in their content, and my answer has always been that writers need to eat so most are looking to write something more commercially viable.

I agree with you about suspense, certainly in a movie of this type, it's the most gripping I can think of since Seven but with the extra human element that made the film so great.

Oh, of course I get that. I might very well be in that position too someday. I mean this script was written to do just that anyway. I mean when it was sent around, there was concern on its commercial potential. I can't speak for the first draft, but I mean when it all comes together at the end of the day. I just haven't watched a movie this good in the theater in a long time. There hasn't been a single film this year that's stood out as a movie that I loved and that's clearly number one. This was finally it. In general, I haven't been this engaged since The Avengers. But in terms of drama/thriller in the theater? I can't remember.

Yeah, I agree. Also, the scene where he confronted the priest over what he found in the basement felt very Batman to me. I think he was a bit too young for the role back when he was in consideration for it (Batman Begins) but I think he could own it now.

Loved that entire scene. He's in his early 30's so he would have been the perfect age. But oh well. Cavil and Gyllenhaal would have been a very interesting pairing.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Apparently it literally broadcast the twist about the

Spoiler

maze necklace

. My girl saw that coming the whole time because they apparently showed it in the trailer. Luckily, I missed that so I didn't see it coming.

That's actually a strength of the film. It doesn't make much of an effort to conceal everything. Everything is there in front of you. It just doesn't come together until the end. The

Spoiler

neckless being one of them. Sometimes the most obvious things are in front of you where it doesn't make sense until the very end. The little things that may no matter matter. Hence Loki's face when he saw the picture in the finale. Especially given how he said, "everything matter."

 

[Hunter Rider]

Oh, of course I get that. I might very well be in that position too someday. I mean this script was written to do just that anyway. I mean when it was sent around, there was concern on its commercial potential. I can't speak for the first draft, but I mean when it all comes together at the end of the day. I just haven't watched a movie this good in the theater in a long time. There hasn't been a single film this year that's stood out as a movie that I loved and that's clearly number one. This was finally it. In general, I haven't been this engaged since The Avengers. But in terms of drama/thriller in the theater? I can't remember.

We certainly need more thrillers in this mold where they are written primarily for an older audience without compromises, but the only way they get made is if big names get interested, I mean look back through this thread, it took a few attempts to get it off the ground.

Yep.

Spoiler

They lost their own child to cancer, so they took revenge on God by "stealing his children", knowing it would turn their parents into demons that would turn against God.

Which, it pretty much turned Keller, deeply religious as he was, into when he took Alex. Which made it even worse finding out that Alex was really a kidnapped boy who'd taken the girls but hadn't meant them any harm. And that much more powerful when Keller was praying to God for forgiveness at the end by praying for his daughter's safety and not his own.

Damn, this movie was good...

Oh no doubt what set them off but [BLACKOUT]the snakes are symbolic of the devil and who is more anti-god? [/BLACKOUT]

 

[Wolfwood]

Great movie. In some ways it really reminded me of Mystic River. Really good drama and great acting.

 

[Deserana]

Watched this today. Was a brilliant drama/thriller. It was very long but it never felt too long and justified the running.

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While it was a little obvious that it was Leo's character sorta behind it all I never felt like I knew the beats. I was always curious about where the story was leading.

The acting was amazing as was the cinematography. It was also one of the most tense films I've seen in recent times it always felt like something was going to happen just because of how it was shot. Like someone said the scene with Det. Loki in the car toward the end was extremely tense.

Also one of the more bleaker films I've seen for a long time for every "happy" moment and bleak one was just around the corner. Also the trailer really is just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Absolutely loved this movie. Jackman and Gyllenhaal's performances were both Oscar quality. That movie solidified the 2 of them as some of my favorite actors, I can't wait to see what both of them do next

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Just saw it today. Don't want to go too into detail but wow it was fantastic, third favourite film of the year so far. I have to be honest, I did find myself predicting a lot of things which surprised even myself.

4.5/5

 

[hammerhedd11]

It's a shame this has really lost it's initial oscar buzz. Probably my favorite film of the year, along with my favorite performances, Gyllenhaal in particular.

 

[Hyde]

Absolutely brilliant. Fantastic performances, direction, cinematography, the whole lot. 9/10. Woulda been a whole 10/10, but there were some plot holes that bugged me.

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What happened to the priest? Did he kill the guy who bragged about the murders? Was that man Holly Jones's husband? What was with the mazes and it's symbolism?

And most importantly, what did Bob Taylor (the suspect who committed suicide) have to do with it in the end? We saw him breaking into their houses, he had the girls' clothes and the mazes were drawn all over his house. Was he working with Holly? IDK.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Absolutely brilliant. Fantastic performances, direction, cinematography, the whole lot. 9/10. Woulda been a whole 10/10, but there were some plot holes that bugged me.

Spoiler

What happened to the priest? Did he kill the guy who bragged about the murders? Was that man Holly Jones's husband? What was with the mazes and it's symbolism?

And most importantly, what did Bob Taylor (the suspect who committed suicide) have to do with it in the end? We saw him breaking into their houses, he had the girls' clothes and the mazes were drawn all over his house. Was he working with Holly? IDK.

Spoiler

The guy in the priests basement was Holly Jones husband and yes he killed him because he bragged about the murders. The maze wasn't symbolism, it was just the design on his necklace.

He was one of their early victims who escaped and was mentally scarred, but spent the rest of his life trying to piece together what happened to him and tracking them to try and save other missing kids.

 

[Hyde]

Spoiler

The guy in the priests basement was Holly Jones husband and yes he killed him because he bragged about the murders. The maze wasn't symbolism, it was just the design on his necklace.

He was one of their early victims who escaped and was mentally scarred, but spent the rest of his life trying to piece together what happened to him and tracking them to try and save other missing kids.

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Really? Huh. Interesting. Was that pointed out in the movie and I missed it?

 

[Hunter Rider]

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Really? Huh. Interesting. Was that pointed out in the movie and I missed it?

Yes, but I missed stuff as well, it's a long and twisty film.

 

[redhawk23]

It's a shame this has really lost it's initial oscar buzz. Probably my favorite film of the year, along with my favorite performances, Gyllenhaal in particular.

What I can't stand about the Oscars and the other awards is the way a movie isn't judged by how good it is but by the momentum of its hype. I hate that it is that way even though everyone realizes it with some voters openly speaking about how films released in October, such as the The Social Network and others from years past, "peaked" too early to win. That really should not matter.

 

[Hypestyle]

I'm mad!!!

the meandering pace of the narrative and the "gotcha" fadeouts really turned me off.

I bought a ticket at first I thought this was the Schwarzenegger/Stallone movie that recently came out.

Geez!!

All the lingering torture scenes, the barely sympathetic belligerence by the Jackman character, it was all very gut-wrenching and emotionally draining.

The red herrings felt very forced and manipulative..

The long running time made me feel like the filmmakers really wanted to 'torture' the audience..

at the end, I walked away from this film feeling awful, not vindicated at all.. Hugh Jackman should be ashamed for headlining something like this.

 

[Kane52630]

 

[danoyse]

What I can't stand about the Oscars and the other awards is the way a movie isn't judged by how good it is but by the momentum of its hype. I hate that it is that way even though everyone realizes it with some voters openly speaking about how films released in October, such as the The Social Network and others from years past, "peaked" too early to win. That really should not matter.

The blu-ray is coming out pretty fast (Dec 16, here in the US), so I imagine they're getting it out quickly to get that momentum back.

The director, Denis Villeneuve, spoke with Variety about potential nominees being considered.

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/d...-denis-villeneuve-talks-prisoners-1200851163/

They were doing the press rounds again last week, along with at least one screening. Here's Jake's interview:

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/j...-too-dark-to-be-made-into-a-movie-1200841867/

Hugh was out of commission, thanks to that skin cancer scare he just went through, but he did a phone interview where it mentions the cast and crew event:

http://variety.com/2013/film/awards...kman-speaks-out-about-skin-cancer-1200870558/

Who knows if they'll see anything at awards time (I never count on it), but it would be nice to see them get recognized for it. That was a hell of a movie.

 

[Sawyer]

I'm mad!!!

the meandering pace of the narrative and the "gotcha" fadeouts really turned me off.

At first I thought this was the Schwarzenegger/Stallone movie that recently came out.

Geez!!

All the lingering torture scenes, the barely sympathetic belligerence by the Jackman character, it was all very gut-wrenching and emotionally draining.

The red herrings felt very forced and manipulative..

The long running time made me feel like the filmmakers really wanted to 'torture' the audience..

at the end, I walked away from this film feeling awful, not vindicated at all.. Hugh Jackman should be ashamed for headlining something like this.

 

[Tequilla]

Denis Villeneuve directed the **** out of this. Kudos to him. Great scene direction. The story structure is not very good (and the mystery being very easy to decipher after a while obviously hurt this style of narratives) , final part way too hammy , there's no sense of reasoning (one line and bam) , jackman is a one note grunt from the 1st frame , but the director elevated the material and created a nice suspense thriller (although incomparable with seven , zodiac , memories of murder , etc).

Also loved Jack Gylensomething. Great performance. There's something more to him that we are simply never shown , that's very effective. He has this very stoic posture that i realy enjoy seeing in cops characters.

That drive to the hospital scene....Fan****ingtastic

Viola Davis has very little to do , but she is always so good. Little postures , sliences . Goddamn , it is amazing to watch a real great actress at work. Terrence on the other hand does what he always does.

The filmes tries to have a very realist approach but i had a hard time swallowing that....

Spoiler

Alex would take so long to break in his torture.