Oscars Snubs: Prisoners
Prisoners is a thriller film directed by the same lovely director that has brought us both Dune and that is… Denis Villeneuve. It was released on September 20th, 2013 and the film was written by Aaron Guzikowski. Not only was this film a critical success but it was also a financial success making close to around $122 million on a budget of $46 million. This film has a star studded cast with actors such as: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo and Mario Bello.
Prisoners follows a story about Keller Dover (played by Hugh Jackman) who decides to take matters into his own hands after police release a suspect under investigation for kidnapping his daughter and her friend. If you haven’t seen Hugh Jackman in anything outside of the X-Men films then you need to give this movie a go. Hugh gives an excellent performance as a desperate husband and father that's willing to do anything to get bus daughter back. You know the saying desperate people do desperate things? Well, Hugh Jackman's performance perfectly describes that and he definitely should have been considered for Best Male Actor In A Lead Role.
How has Jake Gyllenhaal not won an Academy Award? It's such a shame because gives one of his best performances is in this film as Detective Loki. Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman have excellent chemistry together and whenever they are on screen together you can sense that their characters absolutely despise one another. Detective Loki is tasked to help bring in Keller's daughter and her friend but things just keep getting worse for him when Keller feels he's not doing his job. Whenever, I watch Jake Gyllenhaal it doesn't ever feel like I'm watching him because when push comes to shove he can pretty much nail anything that he is given.
In my opinion if you want a great male supporting actor in your film there are several people you go to: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Tom Hardy, Mahersala Ali and Paul Dano. If you want anything from a shy awkward guy or a psychopath or even someone who is a complete narcissist then Paul Dano will crush it. Paul Dano plays Alex Jones who is a suspect under investigation for kidnapping the daughter of Keller's daughter. I think the film does a great job at making the audience question Alex themselves.
Overall Thoughts: Prisoners is easily one of the most slept on films ignored by the Academy. Hell I would go as far as to say not only is this one of the best thriller films but it's one of the best films of all three men's career: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano. The only category this film got into was for Cinematography. While, the film is great to look at the performances are nothing to slouch on either.
Hugh Jackman is a great actor outside of the X-Men films and this film proves that. Jake Gyllenhaal shows why he is not only one of the best character actors but why he is so constantly overlooked by the Academy Awards. While, Paul Dano displays that no matter what role you put him in he is going to nail it even if it's five minutes. Not to mention displayed with a very great score and beautiful cinematography.
Total Number Of Nominations It Should Have Received: 8. Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Female Actor In A Supporting Role, Best Male Actor In A Lead Role & Best Male Actor In A Supporting Role.
