The Next Three Days

Plot Description: A married couple's life is turned upside down when the wife is accused of a murder.

  Russell Crowe, and Elizabeth Banks start in this thriller about a man who breaks his wife out of prison when she is arrested for murder.  The first thing I noticed when my wife and I watched it was, "wow, Russell Crowe is sure a fat ass now".  But hes Russell Crowe so it's ok.  He does a good job in this role, and is believable as the loving father and husband who is trying to bring his wife bake home via an elaborate jail break. 
  Unfortunately the film clocks in at 2 hours.  So the build up seems like it take's Three Days.  Very slow, and almost pointless.  Sylvester Stallone could break his wife out in probably 80minutes, which is how long this film should have been.
  After a long 70min Russell finally executes his plan and springs his wife.  Car chase, train escape, tense pacing, and a good musical score do make it very intense, as well as entertaining.  It even has a cool twist towards the end, but at that point you should be able to figure it out on your own.  Unless you I.Q. is 6.
  Now granted the overly long build up did drag the film down for me, but it was the casting of Liam Nieson that annoyed the hell out of me.  If you've seen the trailer, you know it's Nieson telling Crowe how much time it will take for the police to close in on him once he helps his wife escape.  That's his whole scene.  4minutes, that's it.  Nothing more nothing less, but the whole trailer is him talking.  I have nothing again Liam, hell he was Darkman for God's sake, But he does not need to be in everything.  Sure Taken was a great film, but its nothing special.  Typical straight to video plot that was given a big release due to the fact they had a major star in it.  Van Danm, hell Steven Segal could have done the same film.  So now it seems like Liam just keeps popping up in things so people will go "Wow, I bet this movie is like Taken"  It's almost false advertising.  Have you seen Unknown?  It's shit, but look at the trailer, and poster, it looks just like Taken.
  False advertising, and long dragged out beginning, the film does deliver in the 2nd half.  I don't recommend buying it, but its worth a watch on cable.  EPIX is currently showing it.

Overall 2 out of 5 Stars.