Prisoners Review (Movie of the year?)

Overview

Mike and Jay take a break from horror to review “Prisoners”, noting that it’s not a horror movie—but it delivers plenty of dread. The setup is straightforward: Hugh Jackman and Terence Howard’s kids are abducted, and Jake Gyllenhaal is brought in to lead the investigation.

From there, the film becomes a tense, twisty mystery ride—“twisty turny”—with lots happening, while the reviewers avoid spoilers.

Main Highlights / What Stands Out

• Hugh Jackman’s performance Both reviewers emphasize him as the biggest talking point. They praise how he convincingly portrays the emotional intensity of a parent whose child is missing—anger, confusion, despair, and determination. They even compare him to Mel Gibson in “Ransom”, noting it isn’t just “overacting for effect”; the emotion feels real and escalates naturally.

• Jake Gyllenhaal’s gritty detective work Jay and Mike also give him major credit for a dark, obsessed detective. They describe him as having small “ticks” that make the character feel specific and distinct. Even if the role isn’t as “big” as Jackman’s, they say he brings a lot to it.

• Terence Howard’s uneven presence Terence Howard is treated more unevenly. They respect his talent, but Mike feels he doesn’t add much, functioning more as a grounding presence than a standout powerhouse performer.

Tone, Story, and Twists

• Mood shift: The movie begins almost normally—an even, “happy-go-lucky” setup—before the kidnapping detonates the atmosphere, turning everything dark, gritty, and heavy.
• Twists without “plot-hole” vibes: They specifically praise the movie for adding twists that they don’t feel are driven by plot-hole mechanics.
• Mystery structure: The story is built so they don’t reveal everything too early.

Pacing Debate

• One reviewer thinks it’s too long, citing roughly 2 hours 40 minutes and wishing for about 20 minutes cut.
• The other insists it stays engaging, arguing the acting and mystery keep it moving.

Jokes / Reactions

Light humor kicks off early (including the line about smelling “like straight up wine”). They also make playful comparisons to other famous performances and characters, such as Joker, Mel Gibson roles, and even Professor Xavier / Cerebro—as a humorous impossibility for instantly finding a missing child.

At the same time, the tone is occasionally comedic while the emotional toll remains severe. One reviewer says it’s so draining they feel like their “insides” are wrecked afterward.

Overall Verdict

• Mike: Calls it his favorite movie of the year so far, scoring it 10.0.
• Jay: Rates it 8.5, enjoying it a lot but noting it drags in places and ends in a way that feels like it could explain more—though they agree the ending isn’t “hanging” in a bad way, just emotionally intense and slightly abstract.

Best Acting Question (End Segment)

They finish by asking about the best action performance ever. Mentions include:

• Tom Hanks / “Saving Private Ryan” (or a similar reference)
• Forest Gump (as a mistaken/overlapping mention)
• Hugh Jackman in “Prisoners” (Jay’s top pick)
• Jack Nicholson performances (referenced more generally)

Personas Appearing

• Mike (reviewer/host)
• Jay (reviewer/host)