Preview: The Next Three Days (2010)

Synopsis:

After his wife is put in prison for murder, a desperate husband decides to break her out so he and his family can live in peace.

• Poster: A-; B; B-

Review:

Much like one of my favorite posters of the last few years (Premonition), The Next Three Days composites a single image from several others, but it's done more creatively than it implies. It's not series of shots from the film covering the poster, it's a combination of city map and images as if this is what might be displayed in the police station in the film as they try to keep the escapee and her husband from escaping.

Although I much prefer the first poster for the film, this one isn't too bad. Blending the colors with the flames to the image make for an interesting amalgam of images that won't win hearts, but will look good on your (or the theater's) wall.

If they keep this "image inside Russell Crowe's profile" schtick going much longer, people will start to believe that the movie plays out in Crowe's characters' mind. While that wouldn't be an obscene concept, I don't think it's what they are going for. I still like the designs, though this most recent isn't as good as the prior two.

• Trailer: C+

Review:

A pretty standard film with nothing unusually compelling or interesting on screen. The trailer doesn't suggest an incredibly deep movie, but they are banking on Paul Haggis' name, which isn't a box office ploy, but an Oscar one.

Oscar Prospects:

There will no doubt be some attempt to encourage nominations for this Paul Haggis film and maybe Russell Crowe can do it, but I don't see much in the trailer to suggest it's going to compete.

Release Date:

• November 19, 2010

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (August 15, 2010) Original

-Wesley Lovell (September 1, 2010) New Poster

-Wesley Lovell (September 29, 2010) New Poster

-Wesley Lovell (October 20, 2010) New Poster