The Next Three Days Blu-ray Review

"The Next Three Days" makes its way to Blu-ray with a robust 1080p AVC-encoded transfer, maintaining the original theatrical aspect ratio of widescreen 2.35:1. Pittsburgh's cityscape is commendably captured, with exterior shots exhibiting excellent delineation and long-range acuity, rendering the urban environment in crisp detail. The image depth in brighter sequences is appreciable, providing lifelike textures and three-dimensional structure to background elements. Though the transfer retains clarity for most scenes, there are minor excursions into negligible softness, particularly within the stylized gritty sequences and prison visits involving Crowe and Banks.

The Blu-ray excels in its handling of color and contrast, offering a balanced yet intentionally high-contrast scheme that supports the film's dramatic tone. The palette leans toward a blue-green hue, complementing the narrative's descent into moral ambiguity. Despite the predominantly dark scenes, shadow details remain discernible, enhancing depth without significant crush issues. Blacks are deep, dynamic, and stable, creating sensible dimensionality in low-light scenarios. Meanwhile, daylight scenes boast rich and lush greenery, with no noticeable aliasing even in sweeping aerial shots.

Bright yellows and rich reds punctuate the film with moments of vibrant color, showcasing a broad range within the carefully curated color scheme. Fleshtones remain warm and lifelike throughout. While occasional fine detail or contrast issues arise in darker sequences, they are moderate and not severely detrimental to the overall viewing experience. The grain is natural-looking, and the transfer maintains a visually engaging presence, ensuring "The Next Three Days" is a good, if not quite demo-quality, video presentation.

The audio presentation of "The Next Three Days" on Blu-ray features a meticulously crafted DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix that ensures an immersive and engaging experience throughout the film. Dialogue is consistently clear and coherent, even in moments where the lead actors exhibit mumbling performance styles, prominently delivered across the frontal array. The mix intricately balances a variety of effects, from the ambient sounds of urban environments to intense scenes involving police raids and high-speed chases. These create a rich, believable soundscape that envelopes the viewer. The LFE channel stands out during action sequences, providing robust and deep bass that punctuates key moments, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

A particularly notable aspect of this audio track is Danny Elfman's score which is interwoven expertly with the film’s narrative. Elfman's compositions are allowed ample space within the mix, contributing significantly to the film’s tension and pacing. Surround channels are utilized effectively, creating a dynamic range of sounds that move seamlessly between front and rear speakers. This results in an experience where effects such as screeching tires and booming crashes provide a visceral sense of immediacy and presence, making the viewer feel as if they are part of the unfolding action. The soundstage is characterized by exceptional fidelity, with effects and dialogue articulated with precise clarity.

Overall, Lionsgate's 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is exemplary in its execution, adding depth and weight to the film’s storytelling. The mix’s ability to balance quiet, dialogue-driven scenes with bombastic action sequences without overwhelming the listener speaks to its high-quality construction. Whether it’s capturing the subtle murmurs of a bustling city or the chaos of a climactic escape, this audio presentation excels in creating a fully immersive cinematic experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Next Three Days" offer a robust mix of content. The commentary track features director Paul Haggis, editor Jo Francis, and co-producer Michael Nozik, who provide insights into casting, location shoots, and editing choices, despite some controversial interpretations of the plot. Featurettes include in-depth explorations of the film's adaptation from the French original, character profiles, and real-life prison break stories inspired by love. The deleted and extended scenes, however, suffer from a convoluted navigation structure but add emotional depth to the characters. A gag reel and preview trailers round out the supplementary materials.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Discussions on casting, editing, and plot interpretations.
• Making The Next Three Days: Adapting the original French thriller for an American audience.
• The Men of The Next Three Days: Profiles of Crowe, Neeson, and Dennehy.
• True Escapes for Love: Real-life escapes inspired by love.
• Cast Moments: Gag reel with line fluffs and goofs.
• Deleted Scenes: Extra footage providing more character depth.
• Extended Scenes: Additional moments focusing on under-developed characters.
• Preview Trailers: A selection of trailers for upcoming releases.

"The Next Three Days," directed by Paul Haggis, stands out as a serviceable if not particularly groundbreaking modern remake of the French film "Pour Elle." The movie benefits substantially from Russell Crowe's convincing performance as John Brennan, a mild-mannered Pittsburgh literature professor turned desperate criminal mastermind, and Elizabeth Banks' nuanced portrayal of his wife, Lara, who faces a life sentence for a murder she may not have committed. The narrative focuses intently on John's elaborate plan to break Lara out of prison, taking viewers on a journey fraught with tension and moral ambiguity. Despite the thriller’s inherent implausibility and logical gaps, such as the over-the-top police raid on the Brennan home and John’s improbably quick transformation into an expert in prison escapes, it maintains engagement through well-executed suspense sequences and solid lead performances.

Haggis devotes considerable screen time to setting up the domestic bliss of the Brennan household before its abrupt dissolution, effectively leveraging flashbacks and misdirection to create suspense around Lara's guilt. The film's pacing, however, suffers due to its extended setup, leading to a climactic escape that, while thrilling, feels almost like an afterthought. Nonetheless, this final sequence is meticulously crafted and showcases Haggis' skill in orchestrating intricate action scenes. Notably, Liam Neeson's brief cameo as a prison break expert adds an intriguing if somewhat underdeveloped element to the plot.

Ultimately, "The Next Three Days" thrives on its ability to evoke the nightmarish scenario of being unfairly accused and the lengths to which one might go to rectify such an injustice. While the film does not delve deeply into the psychological transformations of its characters, it poses thought-provoking questions about morality and desperation. Crowe's performance, marked by an unexpected vulnerability, and Banks' balanced depiction of ambiguity, elevate what might otherwise be a standard thriller into a mildly compelling narrative about love, justice, and the blur between right and wrong.

"The Next Three Days" Blu-Ray offers an engaging, albeit flawed, cinematic experience. The film's narrative structure resembles a roller coaster ride, with extended periods of slow build-up punctuated by bursts of high-octane action, particularly in its final act. Paul Haggis's direction succeeds in maintaining a breakneck pace during the climactic scenes, which helps to overshadow some logical lapses in the storyline. Performances by Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks are standout elements, bringing charisma and depth to their roles. The movie also features some unexpectedly beautiful shots of urban landscapes, adding a visual allure to the unfolding drama.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-Ray presentation excels. Both video and audio quality are top-notch, offering a pristine viewing experience that makes excellent use of modern home theater capabilities. The stunningly clear visuals and immersive audio ensure that viewers remain engaged throughout, even if the plot occasionally falters. However, the special features included with this Blu-Ray are somewhat generic, with Paul Haggis’s commentary being the highlight for those interested in deeper insights into the filmmaking process.

In conclusion, "The Next Three Days" may not be a cerebral thriller, but it delivers an intense and visually captivating experience. Despite some narrative shortcomings, it keeps the audience's attention with strong performances and impressive technical merits. This Blu-Ray is recommended for action enthusiasts and fans of the lead actors, offering a solid addition to any collection.