Prisoners is a thriller for grown-ups. This is the only time of the year when we get those. It doesn’t pander to the least common denominator. It doesn’t shirk from asking difficult questions and tackling uncomfortable issues. It isn’t afraid of generating an emotional response but doesn’t manipulate the audience to get it. Most of all, it’s unconcerned about the frustration that might arise from an inconclusive ending. Denis Villeneuve has made the film he wanted to and, refreshingly, it defies many of Hollywood’s tenets about what constitutes “crowd pleasing.” Powerful movies are often disconcerting, and Prisoners is no exception. James Berardinelli