Prisoners

Genre: Crime drama

Directed: Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Viola Davis and Terrance Howard.

Running: 153 Mins 

Following a thanksgiving gathering across the street, Keller (Jackman) and friend Franklin (Howard) find themselves calling their daughters names down a wet and windy suburban avenue. Alert of a suspicious van parked outside previously, Keller realises the daunting situation that both Anna and Joy's disappearance is subject to a double kidnapping. 

The streets become ever so lonely and the situation becomes a reality when the local police, including detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) turn up to gather some information regarding the daughters of both families. As Loki digs deeper into the possible characters involved, Keller struggles to maintain his peace, making matters worse for Loki, Franklin and everyone involved. While Loki is adamant and confident in finding the kidnapper, the circumstances become harder to accept with a plot revealing deeper answers as Loki thinks he has found the answer in Alex (Dano), only to unravel some loose ends in an investigation that becomes harder to tie up. 

Prisoners reels you in easily with a story that becomes ever so gripping but to say it is enjoyable may be the wrong word; more interesting and satisfying (in parts), with a gathering of dark scenes that leave a bad aura every time. Director Denis Villeneuve really hits home with this strong, relate-able topic, with its aggressive scenes and terrific performances from the cast, you could say the result is all too real to actually leave the cinema with a fine grin. It supplies a gritty, yet extremely depressive aura similar to that of David Fincher's Zodiac (2007) with its endless discovery moments yet as a member of the audience, it takes you back to square one every time.

The possibility of this happening quickly dawns on you from the beginning as Villeneuve's vision of relating it to factual kidnappings seeming all too real. Prisoners is a frightening tale of some wonderful, disturbing and dedicated characters that refuses any sense of euphoria from the very beginning.  

While Prisoners deserves much applause for its modern vision on a disturbing and quite existing society, Villeneuve assembles a great cast of actors to help create just that. It is one of the most nail biting atmospheric crime dramas of 2013 thus far. 

Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal maybe on the hunt for bragging rights at the Oscars this year, and while Jackman's performance is the most talked about, both men are countered for their own, personnel performances; ones that may stand a chance masterfully at the forth coming Oscars event. 

Prisoners is certainly not the most upbeat crime dramas of the year but its deep intentions are heartfelt. The performances from the all round cast are jaw dropping, with a plot seeking nothing less than sorrow from its audience. 

That's all for now guys, thanks for reading. 

Ruby Sparks

From writer Zoe Kazan and also starring in, comes a clever movie based on the would-be imagination of a not-so constructed novelist Calvin, played by the populated growth of (Paul Dano), who struggles to evolve from a "writers block" following a successful novel he wrote in college.

Far from social, Calvin lives with his dog and his type writer. While continuing to gain recognition through a book he wrote in his teens, he struggles to cope with handling routine lectures as well as constant pressure in terms of an eagerly anticipated follow up to a book that he is forever recognised with.

While Calvin crumbles under the pressure of staring blank at his type writer, it is when Dr. Rosenthal (Elliott Gould) encourages Calvin to write something "Crap", anything to show his desire is still at show. Agreeing to this, Calvin finds himself writing about a girl, Ruby Sparks who he knows all too well as just a simple imagination who makes routine visits to his couch dreams. Seeing the introduction a potential ball roller, it is when Calvin wakes up one morning to find Ruby Sparks (Zoe Kazan), his creation, wandering around his apartment like nothing out of the ordinary.

In humorous circumstances, Calvin struggles to believe his eyes. Worried of what might become of his mental health, he turns to older and not much wiser brother Harry (Chris Messina) who to his surprise can also see the character of Ruby in Calvin's apartment.

Harry, who sees this a goldmine in more ways than others, Calvin believes Ruby to be the love of his life, the girlfriend of his dreams, literally. Although Ruby is every bit human as the rest of us, emotions, love, and the core of Calvin's created relationship is depending on what Calvin decides to type. It is when he settles for this ideal relationship that Calvin realises that the "will" and "desire" from the two of them may collide, revealing a level of selfishness from Calvin, taking a more serious approach further down the line.

As silly as it sounds, it does manage to provide quite a humorous and clever concept, with a story mixed with the ingredients of a mundane relationship as well as the ups and downs of life. Obviously it would be ideal for us all to control our girlfriends, but sooner or later a karma of some sort will bite us in the ass!. What Ruby Sparks does so well is focus on the drama as well as the onscreen chemistry of Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan.

As far from convincing Ruby Sparks might actually be, the film takes you to a point so far beyond fiction that you forget that Ruby was created by Calvin. A fine example is when she pleads with Calvin to meet his parents; a scene that becomes all too strange. Calvin is happy to convince his mother (Jane Anne Thomas) and her boyfriend Mort (Antonio Banderas) of his newly found relationship.

A stand out performance from Paul Dano who I am growing to love lately. His acting abilities shine brightly, as they did in Looper. His overall presence, particularly in this movie and in my opinion was made for him to represent, resulting in some fine onscreen credentials. Zoe Kazan is also a joy to watch as she plays whatever she has to because after all, she is a puppet awaiting Calvin's fingertips.

Overall: Ruby Sparks was definitely one of the surprise flicks of the year. A clever, Indie premise supplied with comedic humour, drama, romance and heartbreak; not to mention Paul Dano turning in a stellar performance.

8/10

Looper

Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars alongside his future self Bruce Willis in this sci-fi classic to be, Looper.

Joe Simmons (Levitt) is one of many cohorts affiliated with a criminal organisation running Loopers; assigned hit-men of the present who gain wealthy lifestyles through assassinating criminals who are sent from the future be shot an wiped in the outskirts of Kansas City. The organisation is altered through the use of time travel, invented in the thirty years ahead. The mob of 2074 sees the machine beneficial in terms of body disposal. Once the target is sent back to the year 2044, it is placed in the hands of Joe and Co to finish the task.

Kansas is home to the strangest of folks with a major decline in poverty as well as a fascinating trend of telekinesis. Abe (Jeff Daniels) who is head of Loopers, feeds off the low class of 2044 Kansas.

To Abe's disgust, Seth (Paul Dano)lets his target slip, leaving an outcry for him to be captured. Joe hesitates in covering for Seth however he finds a portrayal to come as Seth reveals the danger of the current Loopers as a future figure head calls for all Loopers to be closed - meaning their future self is next to appear which will leave them ultimiately terminated.

Joe is faced with the ultimate task when he is faced with killing himself, Bruce Willis. Joe suffers a similar consequence to Seth as he too lets his target escape, resulting in a chase of cat and mouse involving the mob and an older but much wiser Joe.

Joe; "I work as a specialized assassin, in an outfit called the Loopers. When my organization from the future wants someone to die, they zap them back to me and I eliminate the target from the future. The only rule is: never let your target escape... even if your target is you."

Older Joe follows is on a path to destruction as he sets on seeking the "Rainmaker"; the future figure involved in closing all the Loopers. The concept is blended between a general mix of future scenes and future flashbacks if you like, painting a picture of Old Joe's life from crime to love. Destined to make his future current, Old Joe is hell bent on changing the perception of his younger self, even if it means the introduction of Sarah (Emily Blunt). Sarah is caught up in a convenient piece to a time travelling puzzle.

Looper begins at great pace, offering a classic ingredient of science fiction, a genre we have recently come to forget. It is obvious to see the comparison of movies such as The Matrix, but it should take pride in enhancing its own premise. Time travel has been done before but not like this. Looper took this concept and kept focus keeping any possible exaggeration in tact.

The onscreen chemistry between Willis and Levitt is delightful. It is when they both sit across from each other for the first time you realise the hype surrounding Joseph's Die-hard resemblance. The interactions between Joe and Sarah shine nicely as it took aim in slowing down the movie, focusing on what is a potential romance that intervenes in what feels like an appropriate time.

Looper is an intelligent movie, creating some what a less confusing direction towards what many people believe time travel to be quite mindless, Inception and Donnie Darko are examples of showcasing a timetravel premise. Both fantastic films in their own way, although it still takes me some time to get to grips with the apparent aim of those movies. Inception was known for it's mind boggling asset, leaving Nolan to let the viewer decide. Let's just say you can enjoy Looper without any long-term debates.

Is it what the critics say; 2012's Matrix? No, I believe Inception was 2010's Matrix, and you can't have a film every year relating to the same film can we?

Director Rian Johnson made this movie his own, just like when Nolan got a hold of Inception. Not many directors and writers succeed in creating a time travel concept following the success of previous creations, however Rian has put together something original, with a not-so original cast, and made what could be my film of the year thus far.

Overall: Not only do the performances from Levitt and Willis make this enjoyable, the all round dark and twisted concept rates this as one of the best sci-fi thrillers of the last 10 years! It rocked!

9/10