THE NEXT THREE DAYS (2010)

I was lucky to go along to an advance screening of Russell Crowe's forthcoming film, The Next Three Days. Released in January 2011, it is a remake of a a French film, Anything for her (Pour Elle - 2007), and has been adapted, written and directed by Paul Haggis, who is quickly developing a bit of a name for himself having written Crash, Million Dollar Baby, Casino Royale, The Quantum of Solace and having made a very good job of directing (and writing) The Valley of Elah.



Crowe plays John Brennan, happy family man, living the perfect life with his wife Lara (Elizabeth Banks) and their little boy. Then one normal, weekday morning, their lives are torn apart as Lara is arrested for the murder of her boss. Three years down the track, Lara's final appeal is rejected and John is left a desperate man, so he seeks out the advice of an expert jail breaker (Liam Neeson in an irritating cameo) who advises him how to plan his wife's escape. We then reach 'The Next Three Days' as the plan is put into action.

Russell Crowe is in fine form here. He has played some very big, macho characters, but he entirely believable as a suburban father enjoying the perfect, yet quiet life. It's the first part of the film (it is broken up into three parts - the next three years, the next three months and finally the next three days) where he is at his most impressive, coming to terms with being a single parent, trying to give both his wife and his son hope, but knowing that there really is no cause for optimism. The most touching and upsetting scene is where he goes to visit prison to tell Lara that the appeal has been unsuccessful, no words are spoken, he says it all in his eyes. I struggled to keep it together. It is also worth saying at this stage that Elizabeth Banks plays her part as well - left vacant by her ordeal, resigned to a life behind bars, desperate to be with her son who shows no emotion or recognition when he is with her. It's almost a moody, family drama and very moving it is too.

The Next Three Months sees a shift in the film and also in Crowe's character. John leaves the comfort zone of suburban life behind as he tries to get the resources to make the break possible. He encounters a whole host of nasty characters and subjects himself to violence and the drug abuse of dangerous local neighbourhoods. The thing I like most about this element is that Crowe constantly seems out of his death, nothing goes as he wants it too and you I really got the impression that he is a man on the edge and things are spiralling out of control. Haggis shoots it all in the now familiar shaky cam, grainy image way. Very Bourne, but it gives it a very authentic and watchable feel.

Then we have 'The Next Three Days', and, frankly, it all falls apart a little bit - unlike John's plan. The final act is what might have happened if Tony Scott directed Ocean's Eleven. It's just about thrilling enough, engages you so you don't get bored, but you're never really on the edge of your seat. And it's because you never really worry whether they will get away with it and Russell Crowe resorts to type and becomes the action hero again, out of kilter with his portrayal of John before. Have no fear Maximus will save the day. It's a shame because the rest of the film is very unpredictable and it deserves something better than the ending gives it. I also felt let down because I thought the film wasn't going to insult the viewer by spelling out Lara's crime, I thought it would leave it all unanswered, which would have been brave, very brave, but it is needlessly addressed in the final moments.

So two thirds of a good film, an almost great performance from Crowe, ably supported by a good cast (Banks and Lennie James in particular) and proficiently directed by Paul Haggis again. The Next Three Days had me under lock and key, until cliche broke out and escaped.