Movie Review: Prisoners

The thriller as a genre has evolved in the last decade or so. The chase, the hunt and the suspense have all become big action pieces sequences of cars, explosions and CGI. So when a quiet thriller like Prisoners comes along, we must appreciate it for its excellent storytelling and the non-reliance of the big spectacle in the final act.

A Thanksgiving lunch among family friends leads to the disappearance of the young daughters in the families of Dover and Birch. They all handle the news differently. Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is fixated on possible suspect Alex Jones (Paul Dano).  Franklin (Terrance Howard) and Nancy (Viola Davis) Birch are experiencing the various stages of grief and anger. While Grace Dover (Maria Bello) can barely get herself out of bed. 

Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) who's been assigned the case has to deal with them all while pursuing the elusive kidnapper and trying to find the girls, alive. Believe me when I tell you that no summary can do justice to the way these plotlines unfold onscreen.  Director Denis Villeneuve (Incendies) and legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins set the up somber, wintery mood which is accentuated with stark shadows and gloomy interiors. 

They describe how the characters are living in their own personal despair and hell as situations go out of their control. This is one of those rare films that doesn't give it all away in the trailer. There is much to discover and ponder as the film races along to the inevitable climax where it must all come to a head. 

Kudos also to the great ensemble cast of Prisoners who all bring their A-game to make the film one of the best of this fall. Hugh Jackman doesn't get enough credit for his dramatic roles and Jake Gyllenhaal is very good as the detective who has never lost a case and doesn't want this case to be the first. But you won't be able to forget Paul Dano whose character is suspicious with a capital S.  

It's been a long time since a great thriller held me from beginning to end. And the last scene will definitely make you gasp. In fact, certain parts of the film reminded me of the great Argentinean film The Secret in Their Eyes. I have a feeling the film's story can cause great debates about many of the characters' actions in the film especially Keller Dover's. 

Make time for Prisoners in your fall movie schedule. 

Directed by Denis Villeneuve; Written by Aaron Guzikowski; Cinematography by Roger Deakins; Editing by Joel Cox and Gary Coach; Music by Johann Johannsson

Rating:

Around the World in Posters: X-Men, Saving Mr. Banks, How To Train Your Dragon 2 and more!

 I would watch any movie of Rooney Mara's, I find her choice of movie roles fascinating. 

 Here she is in Ain't Them Bodies Saints.

 

How do I get myself one of those T-shirts? 

Keri Russell plays out the ultimate Jane Austen fantasy in Austenland.

 I love this busy comic poster of The To Do List.



Beautiful poster of Saving Mr. Banks with Walt Disney and P.J. Travers
alongside their creations, Mickey Mouse and Mary Poppins.

 More posters of X-Men, Don Jon, Saving Mr. Banks, Diana and more after the cut!

Around the World in Posters: Iron Man 3, Stoker and Carrie

This poster doesn't need any further introduction than just the number 3.  It's Robert Downey Jr. back as Tony Stark in Iron Man 3.

(Poster: Empire)

Incredibly detailed poster for the English language debut film of Park Chan-wook's Stoker featuring Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode.

From Argentina, it's new poster for Django Unchained with a badass Jamie Foxx going up against Leonardo DiCaprio.

Surprisingly this will be second poster of Chloe Grace Moretz to feature her and blood.  You know her name, it's Carrie.  

Wow, this is quintessential Bond.  Suit, car, London, all that's missing is a martini... whoops, sorry Heineken now.  Daniel Craig in the new poster for Skyfall.

And finally it's The Wolverine, Hugh Jackman back by popular demand.  

Around the World in Posters: Les Miserables, Lone Ranger, Hitchcock, Gangster Squad and more!

The cast of Les Miserables - Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.

I spot Sonic the Hedgehog among the characters for Disney's Wreck-It Ralph.  This was truly the only game I ever excelled at.  

Denzel's back in another thriller with Robert Zemeckis' Flight.

The UK Quad poster for Great Expectations with Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Levine and Holliday Grainger.

New Hitchcock poster featuring the rest of the cast, Helen Mirren as his wife Alma, Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh and Jessica Biel as Vera Miles. 

Hey, I didn't know Bilbo Baggins had a lightsaber.  New banner from The Hobbit.

The teaser poster for the new project by Edgar Wright, The World's End, the epic pub crawl film which will obviously have Wright regulars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Gangster Squad poster with a dreamy Ryan Gosling.  Can't get enough of dreamy Ryan Gosling posters.  

Teaser poster for the new Jack Reacher film with Tom Cruise.  Too simple and not too exciting.

And finally, my favorite of the bunch, the poster for The Lone Ranger with Armie Hammer as the masked hero and Johnny Depp as his sidekick.  Great design on this one.

Rise of the Guardians: New Character Posters

Now that Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is already out in theaters, it's time for DreamWorks to showcase their other animated feature releasing this year.  It's the new character posters for Rise of the Guardians, recently unveiled by Entertainment Weekly.  Here's a look at the characters who are ready to save the world!

This ain't no drum-playing, cuddly Hop-like Easter Bunny, this one's come prepared! Love that the eggs are pre-loaded as weapons.  Good thing since Wolverine Hugh Jackman voices the character.

Jack Frost (voiced by Chris Pine) flies without wings! 

The Sandman sure has an interesting hairstyle.

Previously, we only got a glimpse of the 'Naughty' and 'Nice' tattoos.  But this time, we get the full Santa (voiced by Alec Baldwin) intimidation stare down.

The Tooth Fairy (voiced by Isla Fisher) is definitely more bird-like.  No fluffy dresses or wands here!

Every story needs a villain and Pitch (voiced by Jude Law) aka the Boogeyman is this film's thorn in the side.

Rise of the Guardians releases this Thanksgiving.  

New Looks: The Bling Ring, Les Miserables, and Django Unchained

Emma Watson (center) in The Bling Ring
(Photo: EW)

Entertainment Weekly premieres the first look at Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring, based on the real life crime spree by 'The Burglar Bunch' who robbed celebrity homes of Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bilson and many more in the Hollywood area for nearly a year before being caught.  They managed to get away with more than $3 million in stolen designer goods.  Coppola's cast is lead by Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, Taissa Farmiga, Gavin Rossdale and Kirsten Dunst.   The film will release next year.

Javert (Russell Crowe) and Valjean (Hugh Jackman)

Anne Hathaway as Fantine

Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean

Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) with Marius (Eddie Redmayne)
Photos: USA TODAY

USA Today has new photos of the big screen adaptation of Les Miserables directed by Tom Hooper (The King's Speech).  We get our first look at Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe against each other as Jean Valjean and Javert respectively.  But they aren't the only big names in the film, the cast also features Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Anne Hathaway (for which she cut her hair), Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Barks as Eponine.  I'm curious to see how the film will turn out but I doubt it can match the power of Les Miserables on the stage.  It's a real treat to watch it live and if you get the opportunity, don't miss it.  Les Miserables opens in the US on December 14, 2012.

Jamie Foxx as Django

Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz as bounty hunters.

Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio face off.

Django Unchained
Photos: Empire

And finally, Empire has some great photos and behind the scenes looks at Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.  The much-anticipated Christmas release features Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie (going bad for this film) who steals the wife (Kerry Washington) of bounty hunter Django (Jamie Foxx).  The film is about his journey to get her back.  The first teaser trailer should be arriving soon too along with the release of Prometheus.  

Movie Review: Real Steel

I was clearly misinformed about Real Steel.  I thought this was just about boxing robots and Hugh Jackman somehow builds a fighting superstar or something like that.  I think I looked at the trailer all wrong.  This film is not just about boxing robots (I take it back) and Jackman kinda has little to do with the creation of the awesome robot in the movie, Atom.  No, in fact, it's all Max.

Who is Max, you say? Max Kenton played by young Dakota Goyo is the surprise package of the film.  Set in the distant future where robot boxing rules, Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) is a former boxer whose fighting robots are on a permanent losing streak.  (FYI: I did not realize this was set in the future until after the movie, a future where fighting robots is the only technological achievement is hardly cool.  Where are the flying cars?) When his ex-girlfriend suddenly dies, his 11-year son whom he never really thought about comes back in his life.  Both Max and Charlie are wary of each other and their relationship is rocky until one night when at a salvage yard for parts for a new robot, Max finds Atom, an old robot who was never meant to be a fighter.  Atom changes Max as he blossoms into a confident, smart little kid who figures out how to take on the big guys.

Charlie is mostly unlikeable for the first half of the film until he comes around to Max's way of thinking and fighting.  Played by Jackman, all around nice guy, this was strange to see.  But the relationship between father and son grows as they learn how to fight in the arena and think on their feet.  Especially fun to watch were dancing sequences between Max and Atom before each fight.  I loved their energy.  It was hard not to root for them.  Real Steel is futuristic robotic David and Goliath story that really impresses.  I'll be looking forward to seeing what Dakota Goyo does next, he has real potential.

Directed by Shawn Levy; Screenplay by John Gatins; Story by Dan Gilroy and Jeremy Leven; Cinematography by Mauro Fiore; Editing by Dean Zimmerman; Music by Danny Elfman

Additional Cast; Evangaline Lilly; Hope Davis, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Durand

Rating:

Robots take over Trailers: Real Steel and Transformers: Dark of Moon

This seems like a movie idea from a kid in school and yet here it is a Hollywood film. Real Steel is the story of down on his luck ex-boxer who loses his way of living when robots, yes, ROBOTS!, take over the boxing ring. With the help of his son, Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) builds the next big fighting machine that's going to win it all. The movie also stars Evangeline Lilly (Lost) and Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker).




Which takes us to the other robot story which in its third installment, Transformers: Dark of Moon new teaser trailer shows the origin story to the ridiculous title. No sign of Shia yet but the whole cast minus Megan Fox (who is now replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) will be back. The movie releases in July 2011 around the world and if you did not know this previously, this is a Michael Bay film. Lot of stuff is going to get blown up.