Not bad, but not realistic Prisoners is a story about one man's determination to find his missing daughter at all costs. He goes to great lengths to find her, including administering vigilante justice.
Hugh Jackman plays this role with great emotion and any caring father would be sympathetic to his plight. But it is not here with the performances that was the problem.
The issue I had with this movie was not Jake Gylenhall, but the illogical way he operated as a detective. I do not fault him, as he too turned in a solid performance. But the constant searches of homes with no search warrant obtained, calling for no backup, transporting victims in his own cruiser without first notifying EMS or, again, backup, was unbelievable.
Nothing detracts from a movie more than it's failure to detail, and this movie displayed that in abundance. It seems every movie I have seen with Gylenhall playing a cop disregards common sense and a believable approach to police procedure.
Most people who have watched any movie or even the news is aware police cannot just force entry into one's home without probable cause and/or a search warrant, and anyone with a shred of knowledge about the legal system knows that evidence found in such an even would not be admissible as evidence.
I get that I am supposed to suspend my disbelief, but the actions his character takes are insulting to a fellow responder, the worst being transporting a victim in his own car while driving recklessly and endangering the lives of others.
Had the director just made half an effort to adhere to some kind of realistic policing procedure, it would have gotten a higher rating, but I will not go more than a 6, and that is based solely on the performances of the actors.