When it comes to motion pictures, I typically tend to lean more towards comedies. What can I say? It’s just my comfort zone. It’s for this fact alone that it came as a bit of a surprise to my friends that I opted to watch a movie such as Prisoners, a film that’s not only gritty but damn near depressing — but depressing in a good way. Headlined by Hugh Jackman, whom we all know and love as Wolverine in the X-Men series, Prisoners is one humorless movie.

The film centers on Jackman who plays a determined father who must come to terms with the reality that his young daughter has been kidnapped and possibly murdered along with her best friend. As family members and friends deal with her tragic and mysterious disappearance, Jackman’s Keller Dover — what the hell kind of name is that? — launches an all-out war on the young man who he believes may be the culprit. Complicating things is the fact that this man, played wonderfully by Paul Dano, has the IQ of a 10-year-old and isn’t big on talking and sharing feelings. Things get a bit disturbing with some pretty frightening torture scenes and squirm-inducing images. It’s worth noting that the film was once rated NC-17 before being edited to earn an R rating. Still, it makes for some remarkably tough stuff.

With that being said, how does all of this do on BluRay?

Well, in my humble opinion, that’s rather hard to say. Never one to skimp on crystal clear visuals, Warner Brothers chose to release Prisoners in 1080p high definition — which on a movie with vibrant colors would work wonders. Pardon my slang but Prisoners ain’t that kind of movie. From the second the movie begins, the color scheme is dark, dreary and bleak. There’s hardly any sunshine. There’s an overcast in the first few outdoor scenes and everything is just grim. Perchance that’s what the film is going for. Nevertheless, when it comes to high definition, I like to see my films in color.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is a nice touch, but is pretty customary when it comes to releases from Warner Brothers as is the fact that it comes in English, French and Spanish. What I do like is that the studio chose to release this in a nice combo pack including BluRay, DVD and — drumroll, please — Ultraviolet which seems to be all the rage now. Additionally, the ultraviolet component can be instantly streamed allowing for viewing on different platforms including television, smart phones, tablets and computers.

Not too shabby, Warner Brothers.

It’s just a pity that I can’t say the same about the bonus features. I’m someone who likes to see what goes on behind the scenes of films. Call me nosy. I don’t care. I prefer the word inquisitive. I like audio commentaries. I love deleted scenes. I treasure outtakes. Sadly, Prisoners offers none of those. It only comes with two bonus features including:

• Prisoners – Every Moment Matters (3:05) — A short feature with some of the cast members talking about the subject matter of the movie.
• Prisoners – Powerful Performances (9:22) — A nice feature detailing how the cast worked together and played to their strengths.

That last feature was actually worth including on the disc. The cast for this film is indeed incredible. There honestly isn’t a single weak link, and even though Jackman is the lead, costars like Terrence Howard (who is currently making quite the splash in The Best Man Holiday), Viola Davis, Maria Bello and Melissa Leo manage to steal the show whenever they are on screen … especially Leo who’s practically unrecognizable. In fact, I was really impressed with her performance. Quite frankly, I think she may deserve an award.

So, what’s my take on the BluRay release? Eh. It’s whatever. Purchase the BluRay for the film itself and not for the special features.

Anything else would be a real crime.

Warner Home Video kindly provided CliqueClack with a BluRay/DVD Combo package for review.

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What lengths would you go to if your child disappeared and the only suspect was released by the police due to lack of any tangible evidence? That is the question the audience must answer as Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) and his friend Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard) take matters into their own hands in Prisoners.

After the daughters of both Dover and Birch disappear on Thanksgiving, after being told not to go near a battered old motor home parked in their neighborhood, and after the driver of the motor home, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), is released into the custody of his aunt (an almost unrecognizable Melissa Leo), Dover abducts Alex, takes him back to an abandoned apartment building (where Dover grew up), and begins various methods of “interrogation” to find out where the girls are. Dover drags Birch along for backup, but the police then find another suspect with much stronger evidence connecting him to the crime.

Is Dover right about Alex? Or has he gone so far down the rabbit hole over the course of five days that nothing could sway his mind about Alex’s innocence? And if Dover is right, does the means justify the end? Is torturing a confession out of someone worth the presumed jail time that will come with it? The viewer of Prisoners is going to be asked to think about what decisions they would make in this situation, and determining right from wrong may not be as easy as one would suspect.

Prisoners is directed by Denis Villeneuve, and this is his first major Hollywood film (his previous French-Canadian film, Incendies, was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar in 2011). Villeneuve turns in a long (nearly two hours, fourty-five minutes), assured, troubling, gripping film that he stands behind 100% (a letter was read at the screening asking that any blame for the film rest solely on his shoulders …. even though it was written by someone else). Unfortunately, the subject matter is so dark that it’s hard to really say whether this is a “good” film or not. It’s certainly not the “feel good movie of the year.”

On the negative side, it’s certainly not an original concept. (The fact that it reminded me a lot of Mystic River doesn’t help.) We’ve seen plenty of abduction movies where a parent or spouse goes vigilante to get back their loved one, but the lengths that Keller Dover goes to for answers are quite horrifying. The fact that he drags his neighbor in on it, at first against his will, is also disturbing. But the whole time, you’re left to wonder, “would I go that far if I truly thought the police were wrong?”

For his part, Jackman’s Keller Dover might frighten the Wolverine with his intensity. It’s a role unlike any Jackman has played before, and it truly is a tour de force as he has to go from total rage to weary, worried father when he gets home to his wife and son, to pent up disdain for the cop (Jake Gyllenhaal) who doesn’t seem to be doing his job and spends more time following Dover than the suspect. I think Jackman’s performance will touch a nerve, especially in the wake of the recently discovered and recovered kidnappees in Cleveland, and he’s almost certain to get some awards consideration.

Terrence Howard gives a very subdued performance and he seems like he’s coming apart at the seams as the days of torture wear on and he has to lie to his wife as to his whereabouts (searching the woods for the girls is the best excuse he’s got). Viola Davis has a smaller, but pivotal role, as Howard’s wife who undergoes her own Dover-like change when she learns what’s been going on. Maria Bello doesn’t get to do much but play drugged up and weepy, while Melissa Leo is the seemingly kind, older woman who has lived her own life of tragedy. Gyllenhaal is good as the cop, Detective Loki (god of mischief?), but his constantly twitchy eyelids almost makes him seem like a suspect (either that or he’s suffering from PTSD from his years on the force and a record of 100% for solving his cases … that’s got to take a toll on a guy).

Prisoners is definitely not an easy film to sit through. Audience members at the screening were split, most in favor but many just really hated it. It’s definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and it may be especially difficult for parents of young children to sit through. My recommendation is to go for the performances of the terrific cast and the assured direction (there is a race to the hospital through a crowded, slush-covered avenue that will have you breathlessly on the edge of your seat), but take into consideration the very dark subject matter.

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This offer is now closed. Please follow @CliqueClack on Twitter for updates on contests, news and reviews!

CliqueClack has partnered with Warner Brothers and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer readers in the Baltimore and DC areas a chance to attend an advance screening of the new thriller Prisoners starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard and Viola Davis. Prisoners asks how far would you go to protect your family? Keller Dover (Jackman) is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) arrests its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces his release. As the police pursue multiple leads and pressure mounts, knowing his child’s life is at stake, the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?

The advance screenings will be held on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:00 PM at the following locations:

• AMC Mazza Gallerie, Washington, DC
• Landmark Harbor East, Baltimore, MD

Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Passes are limited, so we ask for one request per person and email address. Simply comment on this post with either BALTIMORE or DC so we can send you the appropriate passes. A GoFoBo code will be sent to you by email. This code is good for up to two Admit One passes and can only be used once. Once all codes have been distributed, this offer will be closed. Please note that passes do not guarantee you seats at the screening. Seating is first-come, first-served, so please plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has not control over the number of passes available and is not responsible for seating at the theater.

Have a look at the film’s trailer below, and tell us which screening you’d like to attend.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=doPNgss-ntc

Prisoners opens nationwide on Friday, September 20.