Prisoners (2013)

4/5

Prisoners is a viscerally intense and provocative morality tale about the lengths people will go to save the ones they love. The story is a difficult one to stomach: Keller Dover (Jackman) has his daughter stolen from him on Thanksgiving Day. Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) initially suspects teenager Alex Jones (Dano), but quickly dismisses him after discovering he has the IQ of a 10-year-old child. Dover is convinced Jones is involved, however, and imprisons him in an abandoned building where he tortures him for information.

The acting is absolutely phenomenal. Jackman gives an emotionally searing performance, straight from the heart. Although his portrayal did at times seem to border on the melodramatic and overwrought, he walked that line expertly. Gyllenhaal is every bit his equal, although less explosive and incendiary. The problem with both characters (and, in fact, with almost every character) is that they don't feel unique at all. From the angry dad who takes matters into his own hands to the mother who shuts out the rest of the world to the driven detective who makes promises he can't keep, the interpersonal dynamic presented in this movie feels completely unoriginal and cliched. We've seen it before in The Lovely Bones and AMC's The Killing. That, or there is only one way families respond to tragedies involving their children.

But the movie grabs you, asphyxiates you. It has scenes of intense power and breathless anticipation. It emanates an aura of tension, an atmosphere of mystery. It's incredibly eerie. It's a promising start for director Villeneuve--he gives David Fincher a run for his money in the genre of dark, intelligent, moody psychological thrillers--and I hope he continues down this road in the future. I will definitely be watching.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392214/

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

4/5

Because of some middling comments I had overheard about the movie, I was not expecting to love Disney's classically animated The Princess and the Frog as much as I did, but it is an extraordinary film and a pleasure to watch. The plot follows a young girl in New Orleans named Tiana who wants to turn her dream of running her own restaurant into a reality. Prince Naveen, who was recently cut off from his rich parents, visits New Orleans and is intoxicated by the voodoo doctor's fortunes of wealth. He accepts the shadow man's offer of a future of "green," only later realizing that it meant he would be turned into a frog. He hops on over to Tiana, mistakes her for a princess, and kisses her. Unfortunately, it causes her to turn into a frog as well, instead of turning him back into a prince. The rest of the movie details their quest to turn human again and stop the witch doctor from taking over the town and sucking out everyone's souls.

The movie is visually breathtaking. The 2D animation is sharp and smooth--and quite a refreshing departure from the typical animated film of the late 2000's. The story is captivating from beginning to end. There are scares and triumphs, thrills and laughs, in the perfected proportions that can only come from years of cartooning experience. Granted, there are a few unnecessary scenes/side plots (e.g., the three frog hunters), but they add in some fun, excitement, and drama. The characters are intriguing and charismatic; they draw you close with their friendliness, warmth, and emotion. And the story unfolds like a puzzle that gets slowly put together into an awesome tapestry. The plot is not without a few predictabilities and the music is not without some repetitive or forced dynamics, but on the whole this movie has all the elements you remembered and loved about the best Disney movies of the 1990's.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780521/

Iron Man (2008)

4/5

Iron Man is a well-crafted and enjoyable superhero movie with very few flaws. It follows Tony Stark, wealthy war profiteer and weapons manufacturer, who undergoes a change of heart after being captured in Afghanistan while demonstrating his new defense system. The plot progression is impeccable. I went into the theater with very little sleep and was certain I would doze off during the movie, but I didn't! I was captivated by every word and action. The dialogue is peppered throughout with comedic moments and wonderful asides. Sometimes, it did seem random and worthless, or it had really bad (not bad-ass) one-liners, but these moments were few and far between. The action, on the other hand, built and climaxed in just the right moments for the entire length of the movie. The acting by all parties was spectacular. Robert Downey Jr. gives Tony Stark an inimitable and likable persona. I loved this movie, but the reason I didn't give it a higher rating is because there was nothing more to it than $10 well-spent. It was a simple superhero tale, without complex characters and provocative backgrounds a la Hulk. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

What I liked most about Iron Man was how it broke all the rules of a superhero movie. He didn't become who he was through wealth (Batman) or misfortune (X-Men, Spiderman), but through intelligence and determination. Not only that, but he announces his identity, instead of hiding from it. Granted, these are just cool little nuggets and won't make or break the movie for anyone, but the action and comedy in this movie are more than enough reason for you to go out and see it.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/

Hustle & Flow (2005)

3/5

This movie was surprisingly entertaining, from its stunning opening shot and intro credits to the equally extraordinary closing shot. The beginning had a style that reminded me of Pulp Fiction without feeling like it was copying it. After the beginning, the filmmaking became pretty boring stylistically as the main story started to take over--which was fortunately pretty interesting in concept, although not particularly original. The script itself wasn't very good, but I loved Terrence Howard's accent, especially the way he said man (it made me think of Pacino in Scarface, not that they sounded similar). The directing was really good in some parts, albeit uneven overall. I'm interested in what this new director can come up with next. I'm also interested in new projects Terrence Howard takes on, because his acting was phenomenal. The music was absolutely extraordinary, and they captured the excitement of music-making exquisitely. Overall a very entertaining movie, if a bit uneven at times.

IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0410097/