Director Dennis Villeneuve moves the 153-minute film with precision, leading viewers through a thriller that bolsters its clever, surface-level twists with deep thematic roots that force viewers to identify with multiple characters. This should stimulate debate about everything from vigilantism to torture, and it allows the movie to live in one’s mind long after it has played out. “Prisoners” could have been even better if Villeneuve had addressed a few underplayed plot points, but focusing on minor flaws in an otherwise masterful film is neither fair nor productive. 

It’s amusing to watch Steve Carrell and Steve Buscemi strut around in jeweled costumes, tossing their lion-mane hair to and fro. It’s also funny to watch Jim Carrey play an over-the-top Criss Angel wannabe. Sadly, these are the only highlights in “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,” a slow, humdrum comedy that would have worked better as a 10-minute sketch than a feature film. Because the performers are charismatic, director Don Scardino is able to milk a few laughs from the tepid, committee-written screenplay, but that’s hardly an endorsement.