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Reviewed by Cas Harlow, 24th March 2011.
The Next Three Days is a surprisingly enjoyable modern remake of a relatively recent French thriller which arguably didn’t even need to be reworked for a US audience in the first place. All things considered, it is actually quite watchable in its own right, in large part thanks to a solid central performance from Russell Crowe as the everyman hero who will do anything to see his wife freed. I’m still not sure why this remake works, where others clearly don’t, but – despite having watched the French original just a week prior to seeing this new version – I really didn’t have any objections to watching the same story told with a US cast and US locations (as well as a few different twists along the way), and Paul ‘Crash’ Haggis’s adaptation is an eminently professional, if not particularly standout, little thriller.
On Region A-locked US Blu-ray we get decent video presentation and exceptional audio, as well as a hefty selection of fairly comprehensive extras which should please any fans of the film; and who would be advised to pick up this release. Would I recommend the French original, Pour Elle, over and above this remake? Yes, but I don’t think that the situation is mutually exclusive – I think you’ll find a reason to enjoy both versions, just as much as you’ll find reasons to dislike both versions. The Next Three Days isn’t distinctly memorable, and will never be lauded as a ‘great’ thriller, but it’s good enough Saturday night fare, and certainly worth a rental.
Read the full review...
The Next Three Days is a surprisingly enjoyable modern remake of a relatively recent French thriller which arguably didn’t even need to be reworked for a US audience in the first place. All things considered, it is actually quite watchable in its own right, in large part thanks to a solid central performance from Russell Crowe as the everyman hero who will do anything to see his wife freed. I’m still not sure why this remake works, where others clearly don’t, but – despite having watched the French original just a week prior to seeing this new version – I really didn’t have any objections to watching the same story told with a US cast and US locations (as well as a few different twists along the way), and Paul ‘Crash’ Haggis’s adaptation is an eminently professional, if not particularly standout, little thriller.
On Region A-locked US Blu-ray we get decent video presentation and exceptional audio, as well as a hefty selection of fairly comprehensive extras which should please any fans of the film; and who would be advised to pick up this release. Would I recommend the French original, Pour Elle, over and above this remake? Yes, but I don’t think that the situation is mutually exclusive – I think you’ll find a reason to enjoy both versions, just as much as you’ll find reasons to dislike both versions. The Next Three Days isn’t distinctly memorable, and will never be lauded as a ‘great’ thriller, but it’s good enough Saturday night fare, and certainly worth a rental.
Read the full review...