Movie Review: The Next Three Days

Last night, procrastination got the better of me.  Instead of working on my Anatomy paper, I settled down with my parents to watch The Next Three Days, the Paul Haggis-written and -directed thriller that opened in theaters last November to mediocre reviews.  You can imagine that my expectations going in weren’t that high, especially considering the flick barely surpassed the $20 million mark at the domestic box office.  Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. 

A remake of the well-received 2007 French film Pour elle (Anything for Her), The Next Three Days is a study in the lengths we are willing to go to for the ones we love.  After his wife Lara is sentenced to twenty years in prison for murdering her boss, college professor John Brennan, played by Russell Crowe, makes it his mission to break her out.  (Interestingly, though John never doubts her innocence, we the audience are left wondering whether or not she committed the crime until nearly the end of the movie.)  The planning drags on a little too long, but thankfully things pick up in the final act for the escape, which literally had my heart racing.  I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I will tell you that Haggis achieves a satisfying resolution.

Though the film suffers somewhat from uneven pacing, it benefits from strong lead performances.  I’m far from the biggest Russell Crowe fan, but I actually really liked him in this role.  Elizabeth Banks, meanwhile, who plays Lara, can do no wrong in my book.  It turns out the talented actress can do drama as well as comedy.  Though better known for her comedic roles (Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Role Models, 30 Rock, etc.), Banks more than holds her own opposite the Oscar winner.  All things considered, The Next Three Days is not in the same league as other Haggis-written films like Crash and Million Dollar Baby, but it’s a pretty darn good thriller.