 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Next Three Days
- Review Date: November 13, 2010
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Mature prison escape drama is tense, but also slow.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this suspenseful thriller from Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis (Crash) has violent sequences with dead bodies and blood, as well as attempted suicides and shouting/arguing. When the main character's (Russell Crowe) wife is accused of murder and imprisoned for life, he decides as a last resort to break her out of jail, no matter what the consequences. His choices and actions send a mixed message to teens about respecting the law, but, on the flip side, those same decisions may prompt some interesting discussions. Expect some language (including "s--t" and one "f--k"), references to drugs and drug dealers, and some sexual situations/talk, but no actual nudity.
What's the story?
As THE NEXT THREE DAYS opens, Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) and her husband, John (Russell Crowe), are out to dinner with friends, arguing over the difficulties of women working for other women. They cap off the night by making love in their car before returning home to relieve the babysitter. And then Lara is suddenly arrested for the murder of her female boss; all evidence points to her, and she's jailed for life, with no chance of parole. Refusing to give up, John begins to think about breaking her out of jail. He consults an expert (Liam Neeson) and hatches his plan, one meticulous step at a time. Unfortunately, time is running out, and if he can actually pull it off, there will be no turning back.
Is it any good?
Director Paul Haggis has built his reputation on soapbox movies like Crash and In the Valley of Elah, so it's surprising that, once The Next Three Days finishes speaking about the female power dynamic and the broken justice system, it simply turns into a straight-ahead thriller packed with intricate details and gripping suspense.
It mostly works, but Haggis is more a director of ideas than instinct, and he's simply not skilled at this kind of pure suspense. The movie isn't tightly paced and often moves too slowly or takes too long. It also has no idea what to do with John and Lara's son, Luke (Ty Simpkins), who gets shuttled around from place to place with no voice or opinion of his own; he's like a prop, and when he's in danger of being left behind, it doesn't feel like there's anything at stake. In short, the movie never quite balances thought and action, even though it does manage a few neat ideas and twists.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence. Since John isn't an action hero and doesn't always know what he's doing, is the violence more frightening than thrilling?
Did John make the right decision? Did he have any other options? Is there a true "right" or "wrong" choice here? Who decides where that line is drawn?
Do you think the movie justifies John's actions? What consequences does this family face at the end of the story?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
I saw this movie with my two children, who are twelve and eleven, and we all adored it! Though his means may be extreme and risky, the male protagonist shows exemplary passion and love for his family. A great thriller for ages eleven and up, I'd say.
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AGE
This was an okay movie. Sometimes it gets really boring but most of the time it's suspenseful. I say that you just rent it on DVD but if you haven't seen it yet your not really missing out. It's fine for 10+
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AGE
I rate this film ON for ages 13+
What to watch out for
*
Messages:
In some ways, the movie makes a statement about a broken justice system, but it also demonstrates the wrong way to go about fixing it. John essentially chooses his loved ones over the law, and he breaks the law in many different ways to restore order to his family. He must do this mostly by himself and can't trust any other characters, nor ask for help. He rarely faces the ethics involved in his choices and actions.
*
Role models:
John makes a choice and sticks with it, going to extraordinary lengths to solve a difficult problem and get his family back together. Unfortunately, he breaks the law many times in many different ways to accomplish this. He ignores teamwork and ethics, choosing to work mostly by himself and/or tricking people into helping him. In some ways, John is right, but in other ways, he's acting out of desperation and with no regard for the consequences of his actions.
*
Violence:
Flashbacks of a murder are shown from several different angles and with different scenarios and outcomes. A woman is bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher; there's some blood. The hero is violently beaten up outside a bar. In another sequence, he pulls a gun and becomes involved in a shoot-out and a fire in a house filled with drug dealers; he also tries to drive a wounded man to the hospital. There's a notable amount of blood in these sequences. Also a suicide attempt and a mean, biting dog. Plus lots of tension, shouting, and screaming and an intense chase sequence.
*
Sex:
The married couple at the center of the film is very amorous; they have implied sex in their car (when they arrive home, their clothes and hair are askew). Talk of conjugal visits in prison. A woman flirts with the hero. A dinner discussion revolves around the power of sex in the workplace, and one woman wears a low-cut dress.
*
Language:
Relatively infrequent use of words/phrases like "s--t," "piss," "t-ts," "a*s," "a--hole," "h**l," "d**n," "godd**n," and "son of a bi*ch." Also one "f--k."
*
Consumerism:
A character drives a Prius; it becomes a crucial part of the plot.
*
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
The hero visits a bar and tries to buy drugs from drug dealers. He doesn't take the drugs himself; rather, he's only looking for a way to buy fake passports. Later, he's in a fire in a house full of dealers.
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AGE
Don't Like this film
I just dont like this film. I really don't. Too much action going on and bad acting. Very boring
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Kid, 12 years old
August 28, 2011
AGE
did not like it one bit
stupid and a waste of time. sooooooo boring i tried 2 stay awake because my mom wanted it off the recording list. Russel Crowe is normally a pretty good actor but dont bother with this one.
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AGE
Message good? Message bad?
I really don't have a problem with violence, and this film is based around a murder. Not only that, but the film portrays a message that is good but also very, very bad. As the main character (Crowe) breaks his wife out of jail, he runs from the law. Not to say this is a good message, but is it? This is my only concern for younger viewers. This film is closely related to Oceans 11, as in you wouldn't rob a casino, but some kids might think its okay after seeing this film.
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AGE
good if not gr8 crime drama thriller.
ok seriously, i don't mean to be rude but seriously what the hell is wrong with these critics??? 44% rating on rotten tomatoes ??? this movie was good if not excellent but it was not bad or worst either, why are they treating it like its a piece of crap or whatever. i know it had some flaws but really few, that doesn't mean to just give it so negative reviews overall. i know it is a remake but that should not be the reason for this rudeness, u can't expect two movies being made in 2 different countries to be exact same. there is, must be and has differences. i loved Paul Haggis when i saw CRASH, which is one of the best and powerful movie ever made and one of my most favorites too, i loved it so much, i won't compare it to this or even talk about the fact that people were miffed by it, winning OSCAR. my ratings are always effected by the Rotten tomatoes ratings, i don't know why?? but now i am not gonna even look at what Critics think about movies, to hell on them, now i am gonna decide myself how much i like a movie. thats it.
Talking about this movie, its a crime drama thriller. john's wife Lara is arrested for a murder which she did not committed, Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.
Russell did an excellent job portraying this character, did 100% justice to the character. excellent performance. i was surprised by Elizabeth, she was great too. so performances wise, this movie was excellent and brilliant. the movie is really slow at the beginning and takes much time for it to actually develop the story and start the main plot but when it is started, movie becomes an edge of the seat thriller which took me by surprise, it exceeded my expectations. i thought it will be a drama. Russell preparing for his wife's escape and when he actually do, my God my heart beat was racing, seriously awsome. it shows how much of a man can do for his family. different movie to watch this year. one of the best movies of this year.
story seems cliche but its not, screenplay is kind of dull in the beginning but gets fine. direction is good. it somehow trips toward commercial movie side rather being a type of a movie that gets nominated for Oscars, maybe thats why critics didn't liked it. its with flaws but that is overcome by the rest of the movie. i say DO WATCH this movie.
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| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Director: | Paul Haggis |
| Cast: | Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson, Russell Crowe |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 122 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 19, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | March 8, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence, drug material, language, some sexuality and thematic elements |
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