This is a surprisingly good movie, not the usual Hollywood formula potboiler. The movie has an interesting story, strong acting and excellent cinematography. Perhaps the plot is somewhat far-fetched but so what? It's a movie. The best part of this movie are not the stars but the supporting cast. Most impressive was the performance by Lennie James who definitely deserves formal recognition for his work in this movie. So strong is his performance that I this movie could easily be retitled "The Pursuit" without misleading the audience. Both Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks give strong performances and Brian Dennehy once again proves how great he is as an actor. At times the story does stretch the boundaries of plausibility but never to the point that the story is rendered ridiculous. In this movie there are no bad guys. Rather it dramatizes a justice system that at times may not get it right and how frustration and indignation can lead one to commit acts of desperation.
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PWNYCNY9 December 2010
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theycallmemrglass4 December 2010Just saw this at a London preview screening.
I have not seen the original that this is apparently a remake of so I cannot compare. What I can say is that this movie was deftly directed with a perfect pacing that smoothly shifts through each gear from 1 to full throttle. It starts off with the necessary slow exposition, transitioning to a heartfelt family crisis drama and crime thriller with the tension slowly cranking up to a breakneck speed when I was literally holding my breath in the compelling edge of the seat finale.
What I admire most about this film is the smooth kinetic flow from scene to scene. There didn't seem to be any implausible leap in logic apart from maybe towards the end but everything just connects together so well. All of the actors were superb in their roles. As for Russel Crowe, well I can't think of many actors who expresses wordless undying love better than he can. He is simply a master of it and you just cant help root for him even if he makes or contemplates morally wrong decisions. His character is beautifully played with all the invulnerability, weaknesses and stubborn obsession he possesses.
The supporting actors were all excellent in the little screen time that they each get. And there is even a brilliant cameo by a well known Irish actor (shant spoil who it is for you) that sparked up the screen briefly in an instrumental role to the plot. The great Brian Denhhey also has a few minutes on screen time as Crowes father, hardly uttering a word but you just know exactly what is going on in his mind and it is absolutely touching.
So in summary, this is a top thriller with an exhilarating edge of the seat 3rd act, enriched by beautifully touching moments and thick underlying subtext of undying love. -
gregsrants7 November 2010In Paul Haggis' new thriller, The Next Three Days, Laura Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) is accused of killing her boss and is sent to prison. Her husband, John Brennan (Russell Crowe) battles through the legal system for nearly three years before seemingly running out of options. Choosing not to go the Hilary Swank route a la Conviction and spend the next 30 years trying to learn and eventually beat the system, John elects instead to speak to an expert on prison escapes (a wonderfully placed cameo by Liam Neeson) to get pointers on what to expect in a daring prison break attempt. The Neeson character gives important advice in reference to the time it takes for authorities to seal off a city's exits, but also gives insight into what his plan should include – "You have to have the entire plan already in place. And you have to ask yourself, can you kill a guard, leave your kid at a gas station cause to do this thing, that's what you have to become." Audiences are then treated to a taut and thrilling attempt by John to free his wife out of prison and reunite the family which includes their young son Luke (Ty Simpkins).
The Next Three Days is a better than average thrill ride filled with equal moments of edge-of-your-seat action and true emotion that spurs the entire cast. Crowe quickly makes us forget that Robin Hood stole our box office money earlier this year and turns in a top-rate performance as the husband who must become a criminal himself in an attempt to pull off the impossible. The supporting cast which includes a non-glamorous Banks and small but memorable turns by Daniel Stern and Brian Dennehy help bridge the quieter moments of the 2+ hour film.
As John maps out his intricate plan, he is met with obstacles that force him to revise his original course of action to supplement for the unforeseen complications. His attempts at securing financing and proper papers (Drivers License, Passport) take the majority of the film's running time and helps provide insight into the transformation of John's character that goes from college professor to cold blooded killer.
When John does launch his intentions, The Next Three Days soars as an exciting chase throughout the Pittsburgh streets and sidewalks as a group lead by Lt. Nabulsi (Lennie James) gives relentless chase to the fleeing Brennans.
Paul Haggis (who also penned the screenplay) directs for the first time since the underrated In The Valley of Elah in 2007 and crafts an exhilarating cat and mouse game that involves audiences in a root-for-the-family emotional ride all the while suggesting that protagonist John is equally guilty in his relentless pursuit. Surprisingly not complicating our support is the idea that Laura may indeed be guilty of the crime to which she was convicted.
The ever twisting screenplay shows Haggis' knack for writing scripts that don't allow audiences to get too far ahead of the story developments as unexpected and plausible scenarios affect even the best laid out of plans. This may leave lesser minded cinephiles wondering why certain scenes were not left on the cutting room floor (a DVD chapters worth of making a specific key, for example), but for those engrossed in the ongoing struggle of John's pursuit should appreciate the occasional red herring.
The sum of the above leaves The Next Three Days as on par or better than Ben Affleck's well-received The Town earlier this fall. It's a throwback to the superior thrillers of the late 1970's where the story journey's down unexpected highways while enthralling an audience along the way. -
disdressed1221 March 2011Russel Crowe plays John and Elizabeth Banks plays his wife.one night she is arrested for murder.after years of fighting with the legal system to try to free her,he learns she will be sent to prison for life in three days.now he must find a way to stop that from happening.this movie is full of suspense and intensity.it's tightly written(Paul Haggis wrote the screenplay)and well directed by Paul Haggis.the acting is superb from both Russel Crowe and Elizabeth Banks,who continues to show her flair as a dramatic actress.Daniel Stern had a small role,but was very impressive as well.this is a film i'd definitely watch again.for me,The Next Three Days is a 7/10
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blackledgec2 December 2010All I can say is... Big Wow. Boy did I enjoy this film. The story-line is a cross between The Fugitive and a human heist plot movie. There were moments where I genuinely really didn't know which way the story would end. Has to be one of the best, if not the best film I've seen this year.
I just had to watch right through to the end. The only down side, were the roles of the 2 main cops. I'm not sure if 2 real cops would be as persistent. But I guess if they weren't, then the film would be a fair bit shorter.
I can't think of any other bad things about it, as it does what it is supposed to do, make you care about the characters and keep you gripped till the end. All in all very entertaining.
Definitely worth watching. -
davidgee15 January 2011Another noir French thriller is converted into a 'noir-ish' American thriller. Russell Crowe's slightly thuggish looks make him more convincing as the desperado of the second half than the mild-mannered schoolteacher of the first half. Elizabeth Banks's role as the imprisoned wife is slightly under-written; their cute toddler son steals most of her scenes and even some of Russell's.
The plot takes too long to set up, so the first half of the film is a slow haul. But the last half has almost the cracking pace of a DIE HARD romp. Writer/director Paul Haggis elects to deceive the audience as well as the police who are in close pursuit of the fugitives, which puts this in the tradition of 'classics' like TO CATCH A THIEF and CHARADE. Gritty and enjoyable. -
aharmas5 December 2010Russell Crowe is a pretty reliable star, one who commands the screen with intelligence and enough bravado to get away with a film like this. Somehow, audiences and critics are getting more demanding and expect brainier and tighter story lines, but it's still plenty of fun to see a light, crazy ride like this... One where the hero is besieged by unfortunate circumstances and must one way or another succeed or die. With the help of Haggis' strong direction and a very good performance by Crow, we're treated to two hours of action, where one doesn't have to do a lot of thinking, just watching Crowe dodge bullet after bullet and cheer him along to the nail-biting end.
The main reason the film works is Crowe gives it his best, scene after scene his eyes tells us his character is committed to his family, and he will stand by them no matter what. There is very little background given to us, except for an opening scene which serves the purpose of planting the seed of doubt in our minds, but this only helps fuel the sense of despair and sadness that threatens to destroy this family.
Little by little, we follow Crowe's teacher, as he races against the clock to help his wife, and soon enough, he is dealing with the scum of society and an increasingly suspicious police force. Relationships with his family are tense at best, and any new relationships are threatened his wife's past. It's the attention to this intimate and personal moments that makes us care for him, even when he makes a couple of disturbing moves.
One thing you won't be is bored, as the circle tightens, so that his quest might not get his desired results. Fine work is done by a cast that includes Brian Dennehy, Liam Nelson, and Jsson Beghe. This is what movies are made for. -
Lara Brennan is serving life for a murder which, her husband believes, she did not commit. As her final appeal fails she attempts suicide. At this point her teacher husband John (Russell Crowe) comes to the conclusion that the only course of action left to him is to break her out of prison and flee the country with her and their son. To do this, however, he will have to discover how far into the criminal underworld he is prepared to go.
This is a remake of the French thriller Pour Elle (All for Her) of a couple of years ago. That was a gripping and rather low key little movie. Russell Crowe doesn't really do low key, and the final break out sequence is far larger scale and more action packed (and more filled with things going wrong) than the suspenseful French equivalent.
Elizabeth Banks as Lara looks small, dowdy and vulnerable throughout most of the movie, and is becoming an actress who impresses me with each role she takes - she has a huge range.
Russell Crowe's John isn't a vast amount different from several po-faced contemporary city-dwellers he has offered recently.
But there is a moment, relatively dialogue-free, between Crowe and Brian Dennehy playing his father, which is worth the price of admission on its own. -
Caribstu11 January 2011The Next Three Days
The best films are those where you are introduced to characters who do the unpredictable believably, or people you think will be key players die in the opening scene, someone you least expect turns out to be the murderer, these are the films that keep you guessing and keep you involved. In Paul Haggis' intense thriller he chooses a wise and well crafted angle to lure you in and hold your attention. The development of John Brennan and his gradual transformation over time before your very eyes.
Meet John Brennan, he's a normal average working man, slightly nerdy even, living a fairly dull routine life. When his wife is imprisoned for murder John, as you would expect of a normal average slightly nerdy working man follows the rules of appeal in an attempt to win her freedom. Three years pass and the realisation that his wife will remain behind bars for life hits home. When normal people find themselves in hopeless situations desperation can drive them to do very abnormal things.
What Haggis works brilliantly into both his screenplay and direction is the gradual metamorphosis of Brennan's persona as he becomes fixated on breaking his wife out of prison. Brennan doesn't suddenly become the all American action hero capable of great feats of courage. We have a knowledge of his character from the beginning of the film and Haggis does not treat the audience as idiots, we know that Brennan cannot walk into a phonebox and there's a sudden change into superman. This would not work for John Brennan, the nerdy schoolteacher, what we see however is how little by little, piece by piece he falls more and more out of control, deeper and deeper out of his depth. We know this is not the normal behaviour of Brennan, but the screenplay is so well crafted and Crowe delivers the character to us perfectly that both the scenarios and Brennan remain at all times, believable. He makes tremendous mistakes and shows real human failings and frailties that as we ride along with him we're never far from the belief that it will all go very wrong, very soon. Haggis treats us to a wonderfully woven story that rolls along with ease, then suddenly the momentum builds into a Tsunami of real tension. Brennan is completely exposed and you fear for his outcome.
If a director can pull you into the story, make you care about a character, and if during the course of that film allow you to watch that character change in a very real and gradual way then he has delivered a truly great film.
Haggis' screenplay does not allow the audience to get ahead of the story. Developments are unexpected and plausible scenarios affect action and reaction. Some events have no bearing on the outcome but you cannot know which are red herrings and which are genuine avenues rather you find yourself wondering where this will all lead to, making The Next Three Days a complex and intriguing thriller very much in the cerebral and classical sense such as North by Northwest or Vertigo.
A tremendous, faultless film.
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lewiskendell11 March 2011I'll admit that I was already partially sold on The Next Three Days from the cast alone. Russell Crowe usually does really well in thrillers, and Elizabeth Banks is one of those actresses that you just love to see on the screen. They're joined by Liam Neeson and Olivia Wilde in small (but appreciated) roles. Not a bad collection of actors, right? Crowe in particular gave a good performance that (thankfully) wiped his recent half-hearted turn as Robin Hood right out of my mind.
The story is about an average guy who plots to break his wife out of prison, where she's serving time for a murder that he doesn't believe she committed. He's a community college teacher, not an expert on prison escapes, so a lot of The Next Three Days is spent with Crowe's character researching how he can accomplish his goal and trying to get passports, money, etc. It's only in the last 30 minutes when the plan is actually put into action, but the movie stays exciting and interesting throughout.
I unfortunately haven't been able to check out the original French film, Pour Elle, so I can't compare quality between the two. Judged solely on its own merits, I thought The Next Three Days was a solid, tense, occasionally clever thriller. Nothing mind-blowing, but not many glaring flaws, either. There are a few moments when the move strays a little too far beyond believability (ex. super cops repeatedly making huge, unerring leaps of logic), but I still recommend it.
Cool soundtrack, too. Who would have thought The Like would be featured in a big budget Hollywood flick? -
MovieSonic27 February 2011Had read some positive / negative reviews so wasn't sure what to expect.
I cannot believe how emotional this film was! The beginning is good - we find out who everyone is and how everyone got to where they are, nothing especially exciting but well-written and acted. Then the film kicks into gear with the escape.
Honestly, I was actually shaking at one point with nerves because I wasn't sure if they would make it or not.
People criticising films for not being believable should go and watch documentaries.
This film was exciting, had excellent music, was well acted and the positives FAR outweighed any negatives.
Definitely glad I watched this.
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In Pittsburgh, the family man and community college teacher John Brennan (Russell Crowe) has his life turned upside down when his beloved wife Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) is arrested, accused for murdering her boss, and sent to the Allegheny County Jail. Along three years, John raises their son Luke (Ty Simpkins) alone and appeals to the court; however, the evidences against Lara are solid – the motive, since she had and argument with her boss; her fingerprints in the murder weapon, a fire extinguisher; blood stain in her coat; and a witness that saw her leaving the parking lot - and her lawyer exhausts all the possible resources in justice. John believes in the innocence of his wife and interviews a former escapee from prison to learn how to plan a prison break. Then he plots a scheme to release Lara and travel abroad with Luke and her. However, he needs documents for the family; an escape plan; and lots of money. When John is informed that Lara will be transferred to the state prison within the next three days, he needs to raise a large amount and anticipate his strategy before the transference.
A couple of days ago I wrote:
quote "The Next Three Days" is a good thriller that could have been excellent with minor modifications in the screenplay. The story of a family man that loves and believes that his imprisoned wife is innocent and plans to rescue her from prison is engaging. But the correct guesses and the serendipity of Lieutenant Nabulsi (Lennie James) are irritating and Lara's reckless attitude on the road is so stupid that almost destroy the plot of this good blockbuster film. I enjoyed a lot seeing Brian Dennehy again after a long period. Last but not the least, the mesmerizing beauty of Olivia Wilde is awesome. My vote is seven. unquote
However, I have just watched the great French thriller "Pour Elle", which has the original story without the absurd modifications of the popcorn American remake. It is amazing the lack of creation of this former successful American industry that insists in the remake of great films. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "72 Horas" ("72 Hours") -
Leofwine_draca8 October 2013THE NEXT THREE DAYS is the American remake of a French thriller about an ordinary guy who has no option but to bust his wife out of prison and go on the run when she starts experiencing mental health difficulties. Watching this, I couldn't help but wonder what the original movie would have been like and how much better it could have possibly been.
THE NEXT THREE DAYS is certainly a passable thriller by Hollywood standards as it maintains a tense realism throughout. Russell Crowe is well cast as the dedicated family man willing to do anything it takes to get his family back together and the thriller aspects of the story, particularly the prison break elements, are well handled.
However, one real problem the film has is the padding; it seems go on and on and on without ever going anywhere, especially in the early on scenes which feature Crowe trying to make some contacts on the streets. Paul Haggis handles the direction well, but he needed to employ a ruthless editor when it came to the length. I'm not quite sure how this happened, since the original French film has a relatively short running time in comparison.
The other problem with Elizabeth Banks, who just doesn't work as a convincing, serious actress. She was fine in SLITHER, but in this and MAN ON A LEDGE she feels badly out of her depth. The nadir of the film comes during the inexcusably cheesy moment where she's hanging out of the car and screaming; I've rarely seen such nonsense outside of a B-movie! -
That is the title of the original french movie this is based on. And funnily enough that movie is not that old. So is there a reason to watch this if you already know the original? I'd say hardly. There are a few differences, but in the end most things (results) are the same in both movies. It has been "americanized", if you want to call it that, but Paul Haggis and Russell Crowe are there to make sure, it does not get out of hand too much.
But to tell you the truth, I'm pretty sure that most people will not even have heard of the Original French movie. So if you go into the movie completely unaware, you will either relish in the entertainment value the movie offers or be mad at some illogical twists and turns during the end of the movie. Let yourself be entertained, if you can! -
matclip-940-2290451 March 2011Set aside the fact that people are forgetting how to enjoy a flick. Pick away all you want at little parts of even the greatest film ever and you'll surely find something to criticize. A movie is, well, a movie. So now that all that is out of the way, where do I even start? This film brought me to tears, it had my attention the whole way through. I don't understand those that say parts are slow, what were they watching? It wasn't this one, that's for sure. Everybody that worked to put this one together did a fantastic job, and it most definitely shows. I do believe the movie touched me so intensely in part because I have a wife and a son, and was able to feel a relation to the characters. Regardless, the movie was just fantastic, and you will not regret the experience. Unless of course you are one of the rising population of "movie critics" that score films based on guidelines, or however they get their ridiculous views. Enjoy this one!
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evanherold7 November 2011There are so many insults to intelligence in this movie, you could probably write a book about them. I was willing to go along for the ride until it simply became unbearable.
Take for example this episode:
There's a murder / fire at a notorious meth lab in a bad part of town, and the ONLY piece of physical evidence the cops seize upon is the small bit of broken tail lamp from a car which is found a half block away. The crime lab identifies this apparently immediately, and obviously the detective in charge just knows that it is the key to the entire case.
Then there's the idea that a missing button somehow exonerates the wife - exactly how is not explained. Same with the idiocy of the arrest in the first place: the cops don't know about the blood on her jacket until afterward; they don't have her fingerprints to match with the murder weapon unless she's already been arrested and printed, right? Is the fact that she's simply uncertified leaving the garage enough to arrest her? No, of course not. Because she also exchanged 'words' with the victim earlier in the day. Well, obviously, lets arrest her now.
Good grief. It just goes on and on. What are these know-nothings doing writing and directing a crime movie? And also, who are these IMDb commenters that find this a 'thrilling' movie? Ugh. -
Hellmant23 November 2010'THE NEXT THREE DAYS': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
Two time Academy Award winner Paul Haggis (Best screenplay winner for 'MILLION DOLLAR BABY' in 2004 and 'CRASH', one of my all time favorite films, in 2005) writes and directs this prison break film starring Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks. It's a remake of the 2008 french film 'ANYTHING FOR HER' starring Vincent London and Diane Kruger. The film is very dark, depressing and gritty at times but it's also pretty implausible and cheesy at times as well. It kind of switches gears between dark drama and action thrill ride multiple times. A lot of critics are saying it doesn't live up to the standard Haggis has set for himself; the man also co-wrote 'LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA' and 'FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS' as well as wrote and directed 'IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH' and directed 'CRASH'. He's also the only screenwriter in history to write two back to back Oscar best film winners ('CRASH' and 'MILLION DOLLAR BABY') but he also co-wrote the Bond films 'CASINO ROYALE' and 'QUANTUM OF SOLACE', so he's known for doing brainless action as well. I found the film to be pretty entertaining but if you go into it looking for something like 'CRASH' or 'MILLION DOLLAR BABY' you're going to be disappointed (Although personally I'm not the biggest fan of 'MILLION DOLLAR BABY').
The film tells the story of a woman named Lara Brennan (Banks) who is accused of murder and sentenced to twenty years in prison. Crowe plays her teacher husband, John Brennan, who knows in his heart she is innocent besides a substantial amount of circumstantial evidence indicating otherwise. After appeals fail and all legal measures are exhausted John decides he's going to break his wife out of prison. He seeks the advice of an ex-con (played by Liam Neeson) who has escaped from prison seven times and embarks on a dangerous mission to raise a great deal of money and everything else he needs for the perfect prison break and life abroad after. By doing so he puts not only himself at risk but his young son Luke (Ty Simpkins) and the whole time it's unclear to the viewer whether his wife is in fact innocent.
Russell Crowe is one of Hollywood's finest actors (his chameleon like abilities to transform himself from one role to another is hard to match) and his performance in this film lives up to his standards, not one of his best but not disappointing either. Banks continues to prove herself as an effective and adequate leading lady and the rest of the cast does a decent enough job as well (Neeson, like always, shines in his cameo). The story is intriguing and involving and despite the movie's flaws it works. While it's not nearly one of Haggis's most impressive writing jobs his directing is impressive; the action packed third act is breathtaking. Obviously this will not be an award contender in any way come awards time but it is an entertaining thrill ride.
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=003J1CrnYDk -
joshyeadon8925 March 2011This has to be one of the best films I have watched of late. Everything you would wish it to be. Very tense at times and keeps you on edge. Great acting from Russell Crowe and the story is very smart and gripping. Not as predictable as some films seem to be when using a similar storyline to this. Very entertaining all the way through from start to finish with no gaps which is always good for a film that exceeds 2 hours in duration. A very different performance from Crowe which we don't offer see, but be played it very well, and very powerful. Definitely a must watch. Don't wait around for this one, I would strive to watch it straight away for those that haven't done so yet.
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mgd_m18 June 2019Starts slow, drags on, you wonder what kind of movie it is, because Haggis never lets it slip into something you already know.
Then it erupts in the third act, in a heart-warming, suspenseful and enjoyable thriller.
It's well written, acted and directed. I think professional critics do not value these things as much as they deserve anymore. -
Danusha_Goska21 November 2010"The Next Three Days" is a tight, hard-hitting thriller that had me on the edge of my seat throughout the film. I really didn't know, right up to the final moments, how it would end – and because the film had expertly guided me to care about all the characters, even some random losers in a meth lab, I did care about how it would end. The actors are all good with Russell Crowe especially so, and the realistically gritty sets perfectly match the film's desperate tone. Elizabeth Banks' too-good-to-be-true wholesome, sunny good looks are well used. "The Next Three Days" reminded me of Hitchcock, and of 1993's "The Fugitive," but it doesn't rise to that level of classic. Rather, it's a well-oiled machine, designed efficiently to crank out the audience's engagement, tension and release.
There are a couple of especially good moments. The opening scene could have been satisfactory if all it did was to set the stage for what is to follow, but it does so much more. I'd love to watch that scene again (and again). A women with a plunging neckline spars with Lara, a more modestly dressed woman, about whether or not women can ever get over their competition over men and bond with each other. The scene demonstrates its contents: Ms. Décolletage uses double entendres to make a pass at Lara's husband, and Lara shows the audience she is quite capable of losing her temper, an important plot point. The brilliant writing in this scene is a bonus. There is a scene involving a sewer drain that economically resolves a question the audience has had for some time. A scene with a car door is similarly powerful and informative. Brian Dennehy's performance as an intimacy-impaired, working class dad is almost wordless and quite brilliant. And the film really does bring poignancy to the scum of the earth, drug dealers. -
djp200018 November 2010In The Next Three Days, we get to see Russell Crowe in a film that actually takes place in today's world. It's a departure from his better known films that take place in the past such as Gladiator, Master and Commander, and Robin Hood. Even his other films have usually taken place over 50 years ago like Cinderella Man and A Beautiful Mind. So it's nice to finally see him play a person of modern times that we can relate to – and he excels at it.
Similar to the film Conviction released last month, which was about a woman who did whatever it took to get her brother released from prison, Crowe plays a man named John Brennan who will stop at nothing to get his wife out of prison. But in this film, he's not out to do it through the legal system. He has lost all faith in that; he decides he's going to break her out of prison himself. Of course, he believes his wife is innocent and doesn't even question her on the matter. He continues to raise their son on his own yet, at the same time, plots out every single detail it would take to pull off such an arduous task. He even seeks out a man who wrote a book detailing the multiple times he managed to escape from prison himself. The man is played by Liam Neeson in somewhat of a one-scene cameo. But that scene lays the groundwork for how John devises his plan and becomes convinced that he is capable of succeeding. He learns that not one detail can be overlooked.
John goes from being a schoolteacher to a guy who carries a gun and makes deals in shady neighborhoods to get the tools that he needs. Still, he watches over his son and takes him to the local playground to be the good father that he is while not doing illegal activity. It just shows how good of a man he really is but that he is willing to resort to anything in order to free his wife. The movie becomes a real thriller, one of the best I've seen in a while. It's the kind of film where you find yourself really rooting for the main character and it keeps you on the edge of your seat as well. Though it may seem a little unrealistic to pull off such a scheme in real life, Russell Crowe plays John with enough determination and conscientiousness to make you believe that anything can be done if you try hard enough. -
The Next Three Days 2010 is entirely a remake of french movie "Pour Elle" (2008) IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217637/. The storyline from Pour Elle is: "Lisa and Julien are married and lead a happy uneventful life with their son Oscar. But their life radically changes one morning, when the police comes to arrest Lisa on murder charges. She's sentenced to 20 years of prison. Convinced of his wife's innocence, Julien decides to act. How far will he be willing to go for her?" It is pretty obvious now that The Next Three Days is not the original movie now, both are similar in their plot however being filmed different directing style. Remember the parts of drawings/pinned ups on the wall, the playground and the escape route using the hospital as the key, all these can be found in both movies.
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shirleykernan-116 January 2011Focussing on the actions of a man driven to extremes when his wife is imprisoned for a crime she claims not to have committed, The Next Three Days sets itself up as an exciting countdown movie but fails to deliver the necessary punch.
Russell Crowe plays John Brennan who, when faced with no other choice, decides to break his beloved missus Lara (Elizabeth Banks) out of jail – an ordinary man undertaking an extraordinary task. And that's the crux of the problem, real life is generally yawnsome; it's hard to show ordinary while maintaining tension.
When it is striving to be real, The Next Three Days is dull and easily forgotten; when realism is damned and Brennan/Crowe has some successes, it all seems rather ridiculous and pointless – are we really supposed to be rooting for this idiot and his idiot plan? And what evidence has this conviction been based on anyway? The ping of a missing button apparently - which says a lot about the trembling basis on which this tale unfolds.
The Next Three Days is at its best when it ramps up the action – when Brennan/Crowe finds himself in the middle of a drugs den and takes appropriately, if surprisingly harsh action considering he is a man made of marshmallow. It's not that the plot becomes anymore plausible, but at least you have some well paced action and a few interesting characters to soak up the general malaise.
Another good point was that, unlike Brennan/Crowe's unwavering belief, the audience does start to doubt the innocence of the missus . We haven't, after all, seen anything to prove Mrs Brennan really didn't do it. When Lara, in a fit a of pique, admits to the crime, I almost cheered aloud that little Ms Perfect might actually be a cold hearted murderer after all - now there's a character flaw worth my attention...for a few minutes anyway, till we are back to Professor Plod and his plodding plan.
The Next Three Days sets itself up as the story of how a mundane everyman can achieve the impossible when driven by love and belief – an insight into the mind of a desperate man, if you will. It is an interesting idea but, while Brennan faces the odd hitch, everything seems to slot into place too neatly and the action – when it does arrive – seems to belong to a different movie.
It's not a bad film (based on the fact I have seen The Ugly Truth and therefore have seen worse), but it's not quite a good film either; it's just more Sunday afternoon on the couch than Saturday night in the cinema. -
jacobson9826 February 2011Russell Crowe may be our best movie actor so I was anxious to see this film. Alas, the film is a disappointment.
Russell Crowe tries his best to show an ordinary man finding the strength in himself to engage in behavior he finds morally reprehensible. But he's not helped much by the script and direction. The film makers obscure points to lengthen a "mystery" atmosphere and those obscure plot points make the film difficult to follow.
I was so disappointed that I searched out and watched the 2008 French Film, Pour Elle, that was the basis for the film. The American film is pretty much a steal of the original but adds an additional layer of complexity in additional characters and story lines that reduces the impact of the film. The French film emphasizes key plot points with script, cinematography, music, etc., while, as mentioned before, the American version tends to obscure them. Most importantly, in its first two scenes the French film shows why the hero is willing to throw away his normal existence for the sake of his wife. In the American film, you never quite see that.
All in all, a miss. -
Russell Crowe is desperate to break his wife (Elizabeth Banks) out of jail in "The Next Three Days," a 2010 film directed by Paul Haggis.
Crowe and Banks play John and Lara Brennan, a happily married couple with one child. Lara is arrested and convicted to life in prison for murdering her boss, though she claims she didn't do it. A woman brushed by her as she was entering the parking lot where her boss was found dead. However, because her prints were on the murder weapon and blood was on her coat, the jury votes guilty.
A few years pass and John and Lara hold onto hope that she will win her appeal, but she doesn't. John realizes that he has no choice but to break her out of jail. His timeline is shattered when he learns that she's being transferred to prison soon, giving him only three days.
Wonderful, action-packed and gut-wrenching story of a normal man who is so desperate he nearly goes insane. Crowe is remarkable as John,a teacher who talks about Don Quixote living in a world of his own reality. He soon must practice what he preaches as he walks the mean streets in order to work out a careful plan, even as he cares for his young son Luke (Ty Simpkins) who has become more and more withdrawn and angry since his mother's imprisonment.
Beautifully directed by Paul Haggis, The Next Three Days keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout -- you're never sure what's going to happen or how far John will go. There is a wordless scene between John and his father (Brian Dennehy) that will break your heart.
Besides Crowe, Banks, and Dennehy, the excellent cast also includes Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde, and Jason Beghe. Don't miss this.