Review: "Prisoners" (****)

Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman star in "Prisoners"

If 2012 was a banner year for film production in Georgia, 2013 has been what dreams are made of. The Atlanta Film Festival showcased more Georgia indies than ever before, including some of the best I've ever seen—"Congratulations!" and "euphonia." However, we mustn't neglect the films that were shot here but conceived outside of the state's boundaries. Hollywood studio productions that shoot here for the tax credits often use Georgia to double as locations that fit their story better, but the films still use plenty of local talent in terms of both cast and crew. Offering not only our talented actors and craftsmen, Georgia's geographic diversity also speaks for itself—allowing easy access to pretty much any type of setting the filmmakers need. We've already seen plenty of Georgia-shot films released in cinemas and VOD this year, including "42," "The Internship," "Jayne Mansfield's Car," "Killing Season," "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" and "Savannah." Several more releases are lined up for later this year, such as "ACOD," "CBGB," "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" and—the biggie—"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." But if I were a betting man, I would count on Denis Villeneuve's "Prisoners" to still be one of the best by the time all is said and done.

Villeneuve first gained notice in the late 1990s for his native French Canadian work, but his career took off in 2010 with his Academy Award nominated film, "Incendies" (which coincidentally screened at the 2011 Atlanta Film Festival). Villeneuve's film contains a nearly tangible sense of his precise vision, echoed in the consistency and accountability between the striking visuals and stirring themes embedded deep in the screenplay. Making use of Georgia's bleak 'bridge ices before road' winter, famed cinematographer Roger Deakins turns our coldest season into a murky Pennsylvania fall, setting an unwavering, incredibly icy tone from start to finish. "Prisoners" boasts a stellar, all-star cast, but Deakins' photography is the indisputable standout.

All-star cast featured in Georgia-filmed "Prisoners" trailer

"Prisoners," directed by Denis Villeneuve ("Incendies") and written by Aaron Guzikowski ("Contraband"), is the latest Georgia-lensed production to release a trailer. The thriller hits theaters in late September, straddling the line between the Labor Day box office graveyard and the Fall Oscar-bait season. While this release date could suggest studio confidence in awards buzz potential, they could also just be releasing the film at a time when adult thrillers typically do best. Either way, a cast like this is going to turn a lot of heads. Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard and Paul Dano all star in the film.

You might remember filming taking place in Conyers all winter, with some scenes being shot in Atlanta and Tucker. The cast and crew were in town from mid-January through late March. The film's stars were frequently spotted out on the town in Atlanta when filming wasn't taking place.

Check out the trailer after the jump.