Doesn't fair against the original in any way.

"Audiences may roll an eye here or there, but they're unlikely to lost interest in John's efforts."

A decent remake of the better french version. It could easily have been halv an hour shorter without ruining anything and once you finally reach to the well build climax (the getting her out of prison) it could have used a notch up on the action factor.

If you want some real adult action & suspense, The Next 3 Days is the best of its kind this year at least, including Unstoppable. The plot is airtight, inventive, and kept me wondering what was gonna happen next (I did catch the misdirection but I think that was intended). The performances were excellent, with special mention for Lennie James as the intense single-minded lieutenant in their pursuit. This could have been called The Love Story. Banks is hot but Wilde is steaming temptation.

http://gorgview.com/the-next-three-days

69.500

A highly underrated film. Sadly it seems only three of four good films come out every year. This is certainly one of 2010's. Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks have a powerful and gripping dynamic in a film that manages to pull off the trio of espionage, suspense, and drama. Slightly slow start, but this film continues to build until it delivers a strong ending.

Crowe was able to carry the tone of this film excellently throughout. There comes a point in the movie where Crowe's character switches from redeeming his wife desperately through the legal system to just redeeming his wife desperately. This could've easily turned into Russell Crowe the superhero gladiator or what have you, but the transition was handled nicely, only accepting violence and such when necessary. Overall, it was a very smart film, unrealistic sure, but smart. I enjoyed it.

wasn't aware of french original so came to this unprepared. I loved the pace and unfolding story. I loved the way it kept me riveted without the usual mechanisms of escalating 'peril'. A slow burning passion can outweigh a flash in the pan

The movie starts out a bit slow, but gradually builds as the husband's life spirals into dark places. By the end it becomes an exhilarating, edge of your seat adventure. Russell Crowe is great, as is Elizabeth Banks. Awesome cast giving believable performances. Excellent music. A love story at heart, Crowes character never gives up on his wife. A highly charged ride as he rescues her from prison and they all make for an escape. Great story telling, script, music and filming.

Not bad, but a faster pacing would have made this film much better.

I have to admit, I enjoyed the original more. At 30 minutes shorter, it ramped up the tension more - this dragged in places for me.

It has some flaws, but entertains.

The film takes pains to show the protagonist struggle to plan the prison break--as if a real life person had to plan it. He makes mistakes. The plan, while somewhat far-fetched, was surprisingly satisfying. But all of that negated when the police officers come on the scene to track down the fugitives. The effort they put in to finding the killer of a drug dealer; making the link between that crime and a prison escape; and other connection was ridiculously implausible.

Movies like this and the earlier "Let me in" really make you wonder whether imitation is the sincerest form of flattery or is it just Hollywood's head stuck deep up its ass? Watch the French original 'Pour elle', you won't be disappointed. As for this, avoid.

Few films I have seen have gotten me as involved and excited as this has. It had a great plot and message. The characters were strong an the actions were believable, and to top it all off the ending had an incredible twist.

Should be applauded for Crowe's realistic turn as unwilling amateur heist-planner, but as a whole the movie struggles to be truely suspenseful. Also: the cops hot on his trail have the most extraordinary sixth police sense I've ever seen!

Not sure if there has been a less interesting flick about escaping prison. Nothing about it makes it stick out as a unique thriller. Banks was excruciatingly underdeveloped. Tame.

I havent seen the original movie, but this movie doesnt make the cut. I think the movie could have been better than what it turned out to be.

"The Next Three Days refuses to puff up its action with message-movie sermonizing." - Nick Schager

Pacing off the wall, ambiguity down the toilet, the film forgets the point it tries to make: that it doesn't matter whether or not she did it. Predictably, we're told whether or not she did it. Snore. Not horrible, but Haggis underwhelms again, showing once and for all that his capacity for evoking the emotion that is clearly latent in the script is virtually nonexistent.

I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. It was as if it was constantly trying to get me to not believe and not suspend my disbelief.

Not bad, but it thinks it's more clever than it is and despite the very obvious attempts at building suspense isn't very successful. Also the ending is pretty dumb. That said it's reasonably entertaining and good enough to pass two hours.