The Next Three Days

When Lara Brennan (Banks) is imprisoned for murdering her boss, her husband, John, (Brennan) resolves to break her out of jail by any means possible. Three years into her sentence, he is struggling to raise their son and prove her innocence, forcing him to take drastic measures. John seeks out the hardened criminal Damon Pennington (Neeson), who has broken out of prison seven times before, and formulates a plan to rescue Lara and start a new life abroad. The once law-abiding family man soon becomes embroiled in a dangerous web of false passports and armed robbery as he fights to save his beloved wife and son.

Not only does director Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby, Casino Royale) weave a gripping and suspenseful thriller but the performances of the actors are equally solid. Crowe (Gladiator, Robin Hood) and Neeson (Schindler's List, The A-Team) form an unusual criminal duo and Crowe's conflictions over what is right and wrong strike a resounding chord with the audience.

The Next Three Days is far from your everyday escape film and there is plenty of action to keep you gripped until the credits roll. Haggis' version is in fact a remake of the 2007 French film Pour Elle and, whilst the original is certainly worth a watch, the excellent performances should make this a "must-see" film in between exams!

Sophie Carroll