Reviews, Reports + Comments

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Review: "THE NEXT THREE DAYS" ( with Russell Crowe )

Review:  THE NEXT THREE DAYS

The workplace is not always a “HAPPY Spot”.  That’s shown by discussions at a dinner being attended by John Brennan (RUSSELL CROWE) & his wife Laura (ELIZABETH BANKS) who speaks about how she had a big fight with her female boss earlier… His brother Mike (TYRONE GIORDANO) & Mike’s woman Elaine (NAZANIN BONIADI) join in an argument about whether it’s better to have a male or female boss…

…  After the dinner, we see school-teacher Russell & office-worker Elizabeth have a cute blond-haired son Luke (mostly played by TY SIMPKINS), & they all seem very close--  until the POLICE bust in & take Olivia off to JAIL with a charge that she KILLED her boss that she’d had the fight with!...

…  The film by Paul Haggis (based on a French movie “POUR ELLE”) then tells the story of how Russell works to try to prove Olivia’s INNOCENCE, & how the failure of that effort leads him to consider using “FORCE” to get her out of her situation…  

…  As the story evolves, we meet Russell’s parents including his quiet dad George (BRIAN DENNEHY), a man named Damon (LIAM NEESON) whom he briefly consults about the prison system (since he has some “legally IN-correct” thoughts at one stage), various drug-dealers (concerning the “money” side of his potential plans), & others…

…  Because Russell eventually begins to feel “patience” is NOT a virtue concerning his wife’s circumstances, his actions ultimately start to involve various POLICE authorities including Detective Quinn (JASON BEGHE) & Lt. Nabulsi (LENNIE JAMES)…

…  There are some impressive “TWISTS & TURNS” in the story, which lead it into the “THRILLER” category…  Did Elizabeth have anything to DO with the crime for which she’s jailed?... Will Russell’s  tactics get DERAILED as various CHASES start to ensue?...  Will he be able to SUCCEED in his elaborate plans?...    Is there a special reason for me to describe this as a “BREAK-OUT” hit (& if so, why)?...

…  Since the “pot” will “boil” tonite, I found this an unusually EFFECTIVE action – suspense story, with some very good acting & clever plot devices & surprises assisting an ever-growing momentum to the film.  I’d rate it 8.25 out of 10 stars…    

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