People adore Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine if the excitement surrounding the news of Deadpool 3 was any indication. With just a few movie credits under his belt prior to landing the role of one of Marvel’s most adored comic book characters, the Australian actor, 55, completely changed the character’s status quo in popular culture with his fierce interpretation.
Nevertheless, Jackman possesses multiple dimensions as an actor, much like how Wolverine has changed over the course of his numerous roles. But Prisoners was the one film that really stood out from the rest, at least in the eyes of his fans.
In 2013, Denis Villeneuve’s riveting thriller made its theatrical debut, leaving audiences stunned by the strong performances of its gifted ensemble. Jackman’s portrayal of a desperate father (Keller Dover) who was forced to the brink of despair in his quest for his missing daughter, however, stood out above the rest of the performances.
Even after over a decade, moviegoers are still in disbelief over the Academy Awards’ snub of Jackman’s remarkable performance in the 2013 flick.
Fans Can’t Just Get Over Hugh Jackman’s Oscar Snub for Prisoners
Denis Villeneuve’s film Prisoners revolved around the kidnapping of two young girls, one of whom happened to be Keller Dover’s (Hugh Jackman) daughter. The Australia star gave one of the most gripping and unnerving performances ever, playing with the nuances of emotional credibility.
However, he received no recognition at the Oscars.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jackman “illuminated[ed] the character’s conflicted nature without ever begging for sympathy”, giving an intense but satisfying performance. Also, as per Variety, every single second of the performance is worth watching because it is “void of vanity or the desire to be loved by the audience”.
According to CBR, the Academy has been ignoring Jackman’s work since 2006, despite their love of calling him “one of the best actors of his generation”. Time has not changed the rage, as the actor’s fans still feel over the Oscars’ oversight of his work in the 2013 flick.
Taking on X, they argue that the Deadpool 3 actor’s performance in the film is truly Oscar-worthy and deserves to be recognized:
I still can't believe Jackman never got nominated for Prisoners. What a performance. pic.twitter.com/1aWHUCvqdB
— Em (@emmasaurustex) March 24, 2024
This movie should have been showered with awards
— Muad'Dib Matt Fresh (@RealMFresh) March 24, 2024
Arguably his best performance, though Logan does come close for me pic.twitter.com/jDgwgB18F0
— G’Colby Porter (@gcolbyp) March 24, 2024
This one and Toni Collette in Hereditary were the biggest robberies I’ve seen in a long time.. both should’ve been nominated!
— Roberto Barrera ⭕️ (@EmilioAmigo92) March 25, 2024
insanely underrated film from top to bottom
— Matt Mangum (@mattmangum2) March 25, 2024
That film is astoundingly well done, but I don't see people talking about it all that often.
— Luis Chambers (@lchambers56) March 25, 2024
The movie, which also starred Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, and Paul Dano, has an 81% approval rating and an 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Prisoners: Hugh Jackman & Jake Gyllenhaal Discussed their Roles
Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal chatted about their gripping thriller Prisoners in a 2013 interview with Variety. The Greatest Showman actor shared:
“I had a pit in my stomach reading it. In some ways it’s a classic genre movie…but at the end of the movie keeps you thinking and talking.”
Gyllenhaal, who portrayed a stiff detective in the movie, claimed that the constant turns of the narrative were what finally persuaded him to accept the role:
“So many scenes in this movie there are like four ways you can go.”
As for the meaning of Denis Villeneuve’s film, Jackman also offered his interpretation, saying, “We are all prisoners”. Continuing, the father of two told GLAMOUR:
“We don’t realise it when we get on the bus, going to work, going out with our friends, but all of us have fears that are actually fuelling the way we behave; the people we marry, the people we hang out with, the jobs we take, where we live etc.”
Despite a $46 million production budget, the movie made $122 million worldwide and garnered favorable reviews from critics, making it a financial and critical success (see Box Office Mozo). Roger Deakins received a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 86th Academy Awards, and the National Board of Review ranked it among the top 10 movies of 2013.
Prisoners can be rented on Amazon Prime Video.
