The Next Three Days2010
The Next Three Days (2010)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks give it their all, but their solid performances aren't quite enough to compensate for The Next Three Days' uneven pace and implausible plot.
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Movie Info
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Cast
as John Brennan
as Lara Brennan
as Damon Pennington
as Nicole
as George Brennan
as Lieutenant Nabulsi
as Luke
as Grace Brennan
as Meyer Fisk
as Alex
as Detective Quinn
as Detective Collero
as Mike
as David
as Sergeant Harris
as Erit
as Mick Brennan
as Jenna
as Elizabeth Gesas
as Dr. Becsey
as Julie
as Lyla
as Harv
as Eugenie
as Elaine
as Dr. Byrdie Lifson
as Brenda
as 3-Year-Old Luke
as 3-Year-Old Luke
as Female Guard 1
as Female Guard 2
as Junkie
as Prison Major
as Duty Nurse
as Hospital Security Guard
as Photoshop Kid
as Notary
as Jail Guard (Entry Hall)
as Jail Guard (Entry Hall)
as County Jail Captain
as Lab Van Driver
as Alex's Thug Buddy
as Phone Operator
as Male Nurse
as Phone Repairman
as Prison Guard
as Prison Guard
as Hospital Guard
as Hospital Nurse
as Neighbor
as Elderly Man
as Air Canada Clerk
as Airport Security Chief
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Critic Reviews for The Next Three Days
All Critics (164) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (80) | DVD (3)
Even with an actor of Crowe's skill, it's hard to believe the mild, thoughtful John would take to the mean streets of Pittsburgh for fake IDs, blast his way into drug houses and such.
In the third act, both Haggis and his actors kick it into high gear, leading to a breathless chase sequence, the outcome of which is unpredictable to the last moments.
In its final half-hour, all the stops are pulled. The movie is still wildly implausible but at least it's hurtling forward.
The movie is a caper without playfulness or wit -- it's accomplished but not much fun.
Haggis knows that the question isn't only can he do it, but should he?
It's laughably, eye-rollingly absurd, so you don't watch it and wonder, "Hey, why not?" You endure it and wonder, "So ... why did they do that?"
Audience Reviews for The Next Three Days
This remake of Anything for Her is even more implausible than that film, and Haggis includes details that don't work really well, but he also injects more tension and stretches some scenes to the point of nerve-wracking while Russell Crowe puts in a strong performance.
Super Reviewer
A schoolteacher's wife is imprisoned for first degree murder based upon circumstantial evidence and when the final appeal fails and she resorts to a suicide attempt he pours all his skills as a researcher into engineering a meticulous plan to break her out. Very much in a similar vein to TV series Prison Break, The Next Three Days has the premise of an ordinary and honest man resorting to extreme measures when faced with an untenable situation. It's not as convoluted as the series however, concentrating more on the human drama than histrionics; in fact the inevitable mix of wobbly-cammed screeching tires, helicopters and cop dodging is easily the least interesting part of the film. Some will be disappointed at the lack of action, especially considering the trailer which was clearly cut together to make it look like another shit-witted action thriller for the ADHD generation but I personally am a fan of Haggis' more subtle and human approach to the thriller formula which dispenses with the usual associated macho bullshit and pointless running around with guns. As a result it feels a lot more plausible and realistic (at least until the rather unlikely finale) and you actually care what happens to the characters thanks to a strong performance from Crowe as the desperate husband and father. It does stall somewhat near the conclusion and never really gets back into gear, but the intelligent approach makes it a cut above the usual Hollywood fare.
Super Reviewer
Possible spoilers found here "The Next Three Days" presents itself with a bold moral view that challenges viewers with a difficult moral code to live by-- in particular, a man that is willing to risk everything for the sake of his spouse that is spending life in prison. It's definitely a courageous act when done under the umbrella of the law, but is it okay if you step outside into the rain? The film does touch upon the question, but half way through, you see where Paul Haggis, the writer and director, sides with: he embraces this moral viewpoint, no matter what the circumstances may be -- even if it leads to taking human lives and compromising the utmost important of laws. Haggis embraces this morale as a righteous, upright, and good act, even when the wife rightfully deserves it. It's a mess and it left me having a disgust towards the message of the movie. The worst part about it? At the end, "The Next Three Days" tries to tie it all off as if Russell Crowe's actions was the best possible decision one could make at such an occasion. At a technical standpoint, "The Next Three Days" is made with adequate technicalities, but the void between the transition of one technical method to another is lacking and sloppy. It's like an amateur that read up on all the things that make a movie a technically sound and cobbling them all up, resulting in an uneven and choppy motion picture. Russell Crowe does a commendable job but Elizabeth Banks was considerably lacking in the acting department. Some of the emotional scenes that demanded raw emotion to spew forth from her was not believable nor convincing. That's not to say that there are harrowing scenes, especially in the third act of the movie where the planning of the breakout comes to fruition, but before then, it's overly extended which hurts the pacing of the film. Was it an entertaining time? Sure, but it's hardly gonna be a memorable one. "The Next Three Days" is an effective thriller that exudes some of the most aggravatingly abominable moralistic teaching since recent filmmaking. Yeah, it's not like, "Let's embrace murder!", but it's the sly persuasive undertones that the film pitches at viewers is what's so bothersome. Films that compromise upright living such as this is one of the few aspectual reasons as to why children grow up with such flawed paradigms, because it embraces how no matter how you may feel, it's okay as long as it's a "righteous" act such as rescuing your loved one.
Super Reviewer
The Next Three Days Quotes
| Prison Guard: | "You walk out that door with him and you'll both be dead." |
| Prison Guard: | You walk out that door with him and you'll both be dead. |
| John Brennan: | "Shut up!" (duct tapes the guard's mouth) |
| John Brennan: | Shut up! [duct tapes the guard's mouth] |
| Damon Pennington: | No prison in the world is airtight. |
| Lara Brennan: | I don't think I can last another twenty years... |
| Damon Pennington: | No prison in the world is airtight |
| Damon Pennington: | No prison in the world is airtight. |