Friday, November 19, 2010

 

The Next Three Days

The Next Three Days For those who cannot get their husbands to pick them up from an airport, as joked by Russell Crowe on Late Show with David Letterman, they should trick or drag their husbands to see "The Next Three Days" (USA 2010 | 122 min.). Based on a 2008 French film "Pour Elle," Oscar winning writer/director Paul Haggis's suspense paints its protagonist as the Husband of the Year.

Community college teacher John Brennan (Russell Crowe) is a normal loving husband living with his wife Lara (Elizabeth Banks) and their young son Luke ( Ty Simpkins). One morning, Lara is arrested and charged for murdering her boss, and later is sentenced to life in prison. Completely believing in Laura's innocence and devastated by the sentence, John starts his own quest to set Laura free, not through the legal system, but in his own terms.

Nobody can doubt John's unconditional love and trust toward his wife Laura—is there any sane person would do what John has been doing? However, the film does not explain where that obsessive mentality comes from, and simply creates a conflicting character for the audience. John seems an extremely intelligent and calculated-minded individual, yet, his actions often seem illogical and against all odds. He is absolutely willing to do anything to free Laura, even that means on every step of his moves he might be end up in jail himself, in separate holding cells from Laura. That does not make sense, does it? The only reason for him to succeed appears to be his incredible luck, and he certainly has it most of the time.

Elizabeth Banks and Russell Crowe in The Next Three Days

If you can put that skepticism aside, you will enjoy Russell Crowe's performance to carry out John's nail-biting grand scheme. Besides, you might be inspired to watch more Youtube videos instead of attending a class at a college—apparently you can learn more over the internet than attending a class, especially if the class is taught by John.

Although the film is telling a hard to believe tale, it offers ample adventures and suspense to keep you engaged. Even better, it provides an example for a model husband who will not only pick you up from an airport, but also pick you up at a prison. To learn everything else, there is Youtube.

"The Next Three Days" opens on Friday, November 19, 2010 at Bay Area theaters.


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