Prisoners - 2013 - Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal.

A morally challenging thriller.

Prisoners, from French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, is a crime thriller whose focus is on that of Keller Dover (Jackman). When his six-year old daughter and her seven-year old friend go missing on thanksgiving, with a bumped up RV as the only lead, Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) arrests the driver (Paul Dano) and begins to investigate. With no evidence on the RV driver Loki has no choice but to let him go, which results in Dover taking the law into his own hands; but how far will he go to find his daughter?

Denis Villeneuve brings us his first English-language film with Prisoners and is the follow-up to his Academy Award nominated film from 2010, Incendies. Prisoners is consistently dark, bringing complex moral dilemmas to the foreground and pushing their boundaries. Villeneuve has created a pulsing and at times nauseating thriller in his US debut which definitely shows a lot of potential for greater things in the future. Villeneuve and writer Aaron Guzikowski create a whodunit of sorts that is open-ended throughout and as such keeps you close to the action and invested in the plot. 

Prisoners is filled with some strong performances from a stellar cast that includes, Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano and Terrence Howard. Any scene involving the magnificent Paul Dano was tense and completely gripping with the only real issues regarding the acting appear with the arrival of Gyllenhaal. Portraying a cop who is battling his own demons as well as his case (a cliche that Gyllenhaal does not pull off), his performance is simply unconvincing and is ultimately the worst thing about this film. 

This film questions morals, in particular the issue of torture, and contains scenes that some may find extremely difficult to watch. However, I am glad I watched this film and is definitely one of my favourites from 2013.

J.Henderson.

7.5/10

12 Years a Slave - Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o

Brutal and undoubtedly unforgettable.

Steve McQueen, director of Shame and Hunger, brings us his next project in 12 Years a Slave; the brutal true story of Solomon Northup (Ejiofor); which is based on the memoirs written by Northup himself in 1853. Solomon Northup is a free man from New York who, in 1841, is kidnapped in Washington, D.C. and sold into slavery by slave-trader Theophilus Freeman (Paul Giamatti). After being shipped to New Orleans, Northup (with his name changed to 'Platt'), is bought by plantation owner William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) and forced to work. The film shows the life that Northup is forced to live during his time as a slave, in almost every harrowing detail.

Steve McQueen is continuing his trend of producing utterly shocking and difficult films to watch with this project, his third feature film. McQueen purposefully does not hide anything in the background, creating characters that will repulse and also characters that leave you in heartbreak, with McQueen sprinkling in wholesome characters where he can. Before the last five minutes I can safely say there is only one part of the 133 minute film that I enjoyed, and that was when Northup gave racist carpenter John Tibeats the beating he deserved. The rest of the film left me motionless in my seat as the brutal and thought-provoking portrayal of pre-emancipation proclamation America was being played before me. The way McQueen used the camera to portray such atrocities that occurred during this period in history brought me into the action in a way that I simply couldn't look away. McQueen shows his artistic background as 12 Years a Slave is visually brilliant with the content being nothing short of eye-opening.

To accompany the career best from the director is the career best from a number of actors including Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender. Ejiofor portrays class as a free man and owns the camera superbly throughout a performance that is quite extraordinary. However, Fassbender as the horrendous plantation owner Edwin Epps produces a masterful performance. Before Northup's arrival at Epps' plantation, previous owner William Ford explains that Epps is a fiery and aggressive slave-owner; Ford's words are not close to describing the man portrayed phenomenally by Fassbender. Epps is a drunkard, a rapist and a disturbingly destructive man whose compassion for his 'property' is non-existent. Fassbender gives the performance of his career and in my opinion is one of the leaders in the race for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

On leaving the cinema I felt my eyes had been opened. This is a film that needs to win Oscars, and will. This film should be seen by everyone and if you miss it then it is your own fault. An extraordinary film that will leave you speechless but your mind racing.

J. Henderson.

9/10.

Is The Following for you?

Should you watch The Following?

It took me way too long to start watching The Following (2013-). When I first heard about the show towards the end of 2012 I immediately was intrigued by the premise. The programme centres around former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), whose biggest arrest during his career, a brilliantly charismatic yet psychotic serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), escapes from prison and forces Hardy to return to work. Carroll's compelling and hypnotic demeanor has allowed him to create a cult following that will accomplish all he requires, completing such deeds in his name and inspirations.

I only began watching The Following a couple of weeks ago and smashed through the first series within a few days, but why did it take me so long? Every Brit, no matter who they are, has seen the EE adverts that have littered our televisions. I cannot lie, and this may be (definitely is) unprofessional, but watching Kevin Bacon in them adverts stopped me from giving The Following a chance. With the end of 2013 brought new advertising and promotion for the 2nd series and I am extremely happy that I gave in and started watching this truly gripping thriller.

After watching the opening episode of the first series I knew that I wanted to see this story out. One aspect of the story had me hooked from the beginning and that was Joe Carroll. If there is one thing I love it's a proper villain. By proper I mean a villain that you can't help but quietly root for, a villain who you wish would occupy every scene. Heath Ledger's Joker and Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal both jump to mind. Now, I'm not trying to say that Joe Carroll is in this elite league with Hannibal and The Joker, but the admiration he creates from his followers in the story is mirrored by that which is emitted by all those who watch him from the comfort of their home. James Purefoy's performance is captivating and without a doubt the focal and most important ingredient in what makes The Following a show worth watching.

Is The Following for you? This show has a story that will keep you on tenterhooks, or at least it did for me. If you scare easily then I may suggest you stay clear as The Following is a thriller that is filled with dark and suspense filled sequences.

If any readers have seen the show or decide to give the show a watch after reading this post then please comment and let me know if you agree with my analysis.

If I was to rate The Following I would give it.... 7.5/10.

J.Henderson.