The Next Three Days review
Director – Paul Haggis
Paul Haggis is a filmmaker I’ve come to admire over the last decade. I enjoyed Crash (2004) and the screenplay for the last two Bond films, both penned by Haggis. Likewise Haggis’ latest movie, The Next Three Days, is suitably impressive.
The Next Three Days deals with the imprisonment of Elizabeth Banks, wife to Russell Crowe, but her innocence is called into question. Crowe plans to break Banks out of prison, leading the family-man protagonist into a new world of crime and violence.
Crowe is brilliantly cast in a role that plays well on his diversity as an actor. The character begins as a dedicated husband and father, as the film progresses he leads a second life choosing to rest his moral compass while pursuing a radical solution through a world of crime.
One scene that stood out for me in particular is Crowe’s brief speech to Banks after her “confession”. The depth of Crowe’s performance in this moment was truely outstanding.
I’m a fan of Russell Crowe and I’m sure I could write an essay on his performance. While the Next Three Days is a brilliant example of Crowe’s ability, I doubt this will garner another academy award for the star, but I’d happily wager that another golden statue will adorn Crowe’s shelf in the future.
Haggis’ script effortlessly combines a frank realism that many modern thrillers fail to achieve. I found the plots’ ability to seamlessly switch between all out action and prosaic thriller quite effective, and clearly demonstrates Haggis’ strengths as a director and writer. With movies like this Haggis is moving into the top flight of US filmmakers.
The film culminates in an epic chase scene with Crowe and Banks evading their captors, built up over the course of the film from intermittent action scenes throughout the film. 20 minutes of cat and mouse pursuit lead to a climatic finale that is both spectacular and unmissable.
As much as I enjoyed The Next Three Days I did find there were several scenes that lost the build up of momentum (for example the scenes in the park, while integral to the plot create a definite lull).
I think this is a film that on repeat viewings will become more enjoyable. The excellent script and direction combined with a strong cast and powerful performances make The Next Three Days an early contender for top 10 films of 2011.
8/10
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