Prisoners Review

Keller Dover is a family man, a husband and a father of two and there isn't a thing in this world he wouldn't do for those he loves. Keller Dover is a god fearing man, devout in his faith to a lord that watches over him and his. Keller Dover also lacks trust in humanity on a grand scale, as he is always prepared for the possibility of a doomsday scenario. The end of the world. It sounds like such a blanket and simplistic concept, the end of the world, as in the planet and/or the people that occupy it would cease to exist, but I also think the world can end on a much more intimate level. It depends entirely on how you define the word "world".

Keller Dover had canned goods and gas masks ready to protect his family, but what he failed to account for was the possibility that his daughter could disappear one day while playing outside. Just like that, she has vanished, a tiny and helpless little girl, kidnapped by someone capable of harming a child. No matter how much he loves her, that alone won't bring her back home. No matter how strongly he believes in a deity, prayers seem like empty words when the god you trusted allowed her to be taken away in the first place. Keller Dover may have prepared for the end of the world, but when his existence is collapsing around him, when his own world is ending, Keller Dover isn't prepared in the least.  

If you haven't made the acquaintance of the film Prisoners, a masterful and chilling work by director Denis Villeneuve, please do so as soon as possible. It isn't a joyous experience, as it covers both child abduction and the darkness that fills the heart of a parent when they must determine how far is too far to look for answers to bring them back, but if you are simply a fan of exquisitely crafted and constantly compelling thrillers, Prisoners is near the top of the list.  

In his pursuit of evil, Keller Dover finds it in himself and thus a fascinating ethical question is raised to the viewer: if it were you, would you do the same? It's easy to say no instantly and believe you are better than that. It's easy to simply say things like "I would let the justice system do their jobs.", but heaven forbid you find yourself in that scenario, a child taken from you and a possible suspect in your grasp, lord only knows what you or I would be capable of.

I look myself in the mirror and ask, what would I do if I were in the shoes of Keller Dover?

Honestly? I think I may do the same damn thing.

5/5

The Prestige Review

The narrative is delivered in an unconventional manner, with the end of the trick revealed at the very beginning of the film. We witness the haunting final moments of a man's life and the aftermath as the supposedly guilty party is charged with the crime, but what could have possibly lead to such a horrific conclusion? How could a magician be capable of taking the life of another in such a cold and calculated way?

The old adage is that a magician never reveals his secrets, and yet Christopher Nolan succeeds by doing just the opposite in The Prestige. By methodically pulling back the curtain on the mystery presented, by directly asking the audience to pay close attention and rewarding those who do with a compelling story about a professional and yet also deeply personal rivalry that began as a search for answers and revenge, Nolan crafted an original and fascinating winner.

Not surprisingly this is a gorgeous film to look at, with the usual dazzling cinematography that comes with the worlds Nolan creates thanks to his director of photography Wally Pfister. The candlelit shadowy rooms that utilize lighting in ways that make the characters naturally glow. The way a field shrouded in fog looks when illuminated by a sea of light bulbs powered by seemingly nothing. It's actually sort of baffling, how a cast of recognizable Hollywood stars filmed with such a slick, modern aesthetic can still feel authentic for the era being presented, and that is due to the production design, the costumes, and the artistic integrity that brilliantly fill every single frame throughout. 

What a cast across the board, with Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale bringing honesty and raw passion to their roles as the competing magicians. Michael Caine has developed quite the working relationship with Nolan and yet it is entirely possible this is the best collaboration to date in terms of his performance. Scarlett Johansson may not deliver the most convincing English accent but her look and mannerisms are spot on for a role as a magician's assistant, the perfect misdirection for an audience to miss the sleight of hand and thus believe in magic.

The Prestige feels as if it is powered by Tesla's machine, as even though it is wonderfully focused on both telling an interesting story and also truly developing characters and relationships, it manages to pick up steam as it goes, glowing brighter and brighter the closer we get to finally learning the truth behind what we saw at the start. Even as I have seen it a few times prior to this viewing and knew exactly how it would play out, this is a movie that is mesmerizing to watch unfold again and again.

"Are you watching closely?"

Of course. How could I not?

4.5/5