The Next Three Days (DVD)

Having never been a big fan of Russell Crowe, one must admit though that his movies are mostly enjoyable. And The Next Three Days is no exception. In fact, it's one of his more exciting films in years. Billed as an action drama, the first half of the movie contains the drama, and the second plays like a "heist", only the heist is similar in vein to that of a prison break.

John and Lara Brennan have a young son and lead a happy life, until the day Lara is arrested for murder. The evidence is airtight, and John struggles to believe her guilt, while also trying to raise his son with the help of his worrying parents. As the years and prison visits come and go, Lara becomes more despondent, acknowledging she'll never get out. And facing this realization, John comes up with an audacious plan: to try and free Lara from prison.

It's a simple well-worn plot, but the surprise comes in the form of realistic character development and intense plot strands which lead John into territories he's never encountered before. His character has alot to learn and the planning of the "heist" is almost as fun as the actual exciting plan which forms the bulk of the second half of the movie.

The acting is top-notch, with some terrific "smaller-role" performances from Liam Neeson and Brian Dennehy. And with the edge-of-your-seat storytelling from Oscar-winner writer/director Paul Haggis, The Next Three Days is a definite winner! (4 out of 5, by Carlisle Johnson)

Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a murder she says she didn’t commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence.

With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison.

Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.

General

Studio:	Lion's Gate
Country of origin:	South Africa
Release date:	June 2011
Actors:	Russell Crowe • Elizabeth Banks • Liam Neeson
Dimensions:	192 x 137 x 15mm (L x W x T)
Format:
Running time:	2 hours, 2 minutes
Region encoding:	Region 2. This DVD will play in all South African DVD players.
Age restriction:	13 PGLV
Categories:	DVD > Mystery DVD > Thriller DVD > Feature Film
LSN:	X56-SEP-4FH-6
Barcode:	6003805001658

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Review This Product

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 | Review by: Micky B

This remake of a 2008 French movie that was called "Pour Elle" is is not a bad drama at all. The title is somewhat obscure, however, with the story telling of how college professor John Bennan (Russel Crowe) deals with the situation of his wife, Laura (Elizabeth Banks), when she is convicted of murdering her boss after an altercation at work - and her subsequent court appeal fails! Liam Neeson is Danon Peddington, a former convict whom John has cause to contact during his investigations. As always, Neeson's performance is impeccable - though I would have liked his role too have had more screen time. Big Brian Dennehy (alas, now also getting old like the rest of us) plays John's estranged father, George - which is also a somewhat minor role. The picture does have its violent moments too, but director Paul Haggis succeeds in keeping them suitably under control so as to aid - rather than just interrupt - the telling of the story. Maybe the whle thing is a tad drawn out - but its well-worth sitting through, even if solely to witness the exemplary acting of Crowe, Banks, and Neeson. They really give it their all, with their absolutely riveting professionalism! Danny Elfman's musical score is well above average as well.

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