The Next Three Days (2010)

**** 
Dir. Paul Haggis
I saw this film when it first came out, and forgot how good it was until I watched it again on Netflix earlier today. Writer/director Paul Haggis (Crash) delivers a crime drama with a clever and intriguing plotline in The Next Three Days, moreso than a number of other modern thrillers have been able to achieve.

The story is centered around an English teacher named John Brennan (Russell Crowe), whose life is turned upside down when his wife Lara (Elizabeth Banks) is arrested for the murder of her boss. Left to care for their son by himself, John longs for his family to be reunited. Positive of Lara's innocence, this upstanding middle-class citizen will use any means necessary to liberate his beloved wife from a lifetime behind bars.

Upon seeking the advice of Damon Pennington (Liam Neeson), an escape artist turned author, he is given this warning prior to embarking on this mission:"But before you do anything, you have to ask yourself if you can do it. Can you forget about ever seeing your parents again? Can you kill a guard? Leave your kid at a gas station? Push some nice old lady to the ground just because she gets between you and the door? Because to do this thing, that's who you have to become. And if you can't, don't start, 'cause you'll just get someone killed."  With these words in mind, he trades his life for that of a vigilante, risking everything he has left to save Lara. 

Haggis is a master storyteller, with a style of filmmaking that is more independent than many other directors of this genre. This is a thriller with great depth to its characters, and a story much less outlandish than a number of other crime dramas. Not only are we able to sympathize with the conflicting emotions of Brennan, but viewers also continually gain insight into his motivations as the film progresses. The way Haggis develops the relationship between him and his son is brilliant, presenting numerous psychological themes throughout. 

There is also an excellent display of cinematography in this picture to enhance the story. We see multiple close-up shots, which allow us to examine the emotional state of each character, and put less emphasis on the overall action. Aspects like these are the mark of a great filmmaker. Rather than follow the standard structure for a Hollywood thriller, Haggis' style offers a unique approach which focuses more on story and character development than anything else. The pacing is just right, and Danny Elfman's score correlates well with the mood. 

Other noteworthy thrillers I've seen in recent years include Limitless (Neil Burger, 2011), Source Code (Duncan Jones, 2011), and Deja Vu (Tony Scott, 2006). What stands out about The Next Three Days is Haggis' effective use of characterization and film noir elements, all which culminate into a unique and intriguing story which keep viewers engaged up until the very end.