In the movie business there are films and there are event films. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, “Avatar,” “Inception” and “Harry Potter” were all event films. They’re the big budget must sees that talk about ticket sales in terms of billions rather than millions.
During a season that has seen little in terms of worthwhile movies, audiences have been treated to a long awaited conclusion to the Harry Potter franchise but should not forget to consider the easily overlooked “The Next Three Days.”
For those of us who are not enraptured by the adventures of the boy wizard, Paul Haggis’ most recent project should prove to be a suitable substitute. This holiday season, if you’re looking for a movie to see with the family with little risk of awkward moments and simple easy viewing, this dramatic PG-13 fare makes for a nice night at the movies.
Haggis, most notably known for his award winning scripts “Crash,” “Million Dollar Baby” and “Casino Royal,” returns to the director’s chair for his third noteworthy film, this time alongside the always impressive Russell Crowe.
Crowe plays an English professor whose wife, Elizabeth Banks, is abruptly and unexpectedly swept off to prison for murder, and after coming to terms with the fact that there is no chance of her release decides to break her out and go on the run.
This film, while populated with a number of talented actors, is really a Russell Crowe movie.
Elizabeth Banks oscillates between her usual intoxicating charm and a convincing portrayal of a woman who is slowly losing the psychological battle with her circumstances. Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde and Brian Dennehy all make periphery appearances and are all underutilized.
The greatest strength with this movie is its ability to draw out the emotional impact of a scene while never going over the line into the melodramatic.
Haggis has proven that he can effectively create settings and performances that feel natural and does so here with perfect pitch. In one understated and moving scene, there isn’t a word of dialogue spoken and the effect at no point feels contrived.
The major issue with this film is a lack of identity. It is not really a break out film or a fugitive film. It’s not really a drama or a thriller. It does a lot of different things well, but none of them well enough to solidify its place in a genre.
It also doesn’t require a great deal from its audience. There are a number of stirring scenes and a progressive sense of anxiety, but at the end of the day it’s no groundbreaking cinematic feat but is worth the price of admission in a season with little in terms of alternative.
Rating : 7/10