MovieChat Forums > The Next Three Days (2010) Discussion > What I didn't like about the movie.

What I didn't like about the movie.

posted 14 years ago by Timescrew
79 replies | jump to latest

Granted, the movie wasn't terrible, I've seen worse. It could have been better and there were many areas it could improve upon, most notably casting and acting.

However, here are the things that killed it for me:

1. College teacher is smarter then the police?
Not just any police either, but I got the impression from the film that the lead cop was someone high up on the food chain.

2. Brennan plans very carefully, but neglects to notice that the birthday party will be at the zoo? Dude, read the freaking invitation.

3. Brennan wields a gun with some skill, and gathers enough gumption to do a one man raid on a meth lab. Really? That's a little far out there.

4. Said meth lab is only protected by a wily dog, some big guy, and a dude who stupidly promises to kill Brennan. Here's a hint, when a guy is really desperate and has a gun in your face, don't promise to hunt him down and kill him. If that were me I just might shoot you in the face and save myself from the sequel.

5. After going through all that, his wife wants to throw herself out of the car?
That was absolutely terrible writing.

6. Then, finally, we are treated to an epilogue where the detective, who obviously couldn't care enough in the beginning of the movie, decides to look for the button, and doesn't even find it even though we get to see it. I mean, what was the point of that scene? Was it to prove to us that she didn't do it? After everything Brennan went through, I honestly don't care if she did it or not. the scene only serves to give us some satisfaction that - hey - she was a good guy all along and deserved to be free.

Is that suppose to make me feel better? Brennan still had to kill someone (even if he deserved it) so that makes only one murderer on the loose.

Now, if the detective had found the button then it would have served as some Gift of the Magi type of irony. That she might have been set free after all so all of his efforts were in vein, yet none of which would not have come to pass if he had not set those events in motion in the first place.

Although, I don't see how a single button would have exonerated her, regardless of who it fell off of.

Now that I'm on a rant...

7. What's with that girl asking if that is what the detective calls coffee? Is that the same girl from the beginning of the movie at the restaurant? If so, who gives a crap. Its a pointless scene. That should have been on the cutting room floor.

8. Speaking of pointless, the other mother - Karen's mom what was her name... Nicole? Whatever, too much camera time for an unimportant character.

9. She? Yes, that is what Brennan's wife said when he came back to the car and reported that "she" had taken their son to the zoo. The tone in which implies jealousy. Really? The man just popped a meth producer, dumped a dead meth dealer, robbed a meth lab, doctored records, B&E, struck in officer, BROKE YOU OUT OF CUSTODY, and then dragged your whiny useless ass through the streets to save you and your family and you want to inquire about a supposed relationship with a woman you don't know.

And then throw yourself out of a car?

Poor acting.
Poor casting.
Poor writing.
Poor directing.

There is no flavor text!

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Milkyway123 13 years ago

Timescrew:
5. After going through all that, his wife wants to throw herself out of the car?
That was absolutely terrible writing.

6. Then, finally, we are treated to an epilogue where the detective, who obviously couldn't care enough in the beginning of the movie, decides to look for the button, and doesn't even find it even though we get to see it. I mean, what was the point of that scene? Was it to prove to us that she didn't do it? After everything Brennan went through, I honestly don't care if she did it or not. the scene only serves to give us some satisfaction that - hey - she was a good guy all along and deserved to be free.

Is that suppose to make me feel better? Brennan still had to kill someone (even if he deserved it) so that makes only one murderer on the loose.

Now, if the detective had found the button then it would have served as some Gift of the Magi type of irony. That she might have been set free after all so all of his efforts were in vein, yet none of which would not have come to pass if he had not set those events in motion in the first place.

Although, I don't see how a single button would have exonerated her, regardless of who it fell off of.

7. What's with that girl asking if that is what the detective calls coffee? Is that the same girl from the beginning of the movie at the restaurant? If so, who gives a crap. Its a pointless scene. That should have been on the cutting room floor.

8. Speaking of pointless, the other mother - Karen's mom what was her name... Nicole? Whatever, too much camera time for an unimportant character.

9. She? Yes, that is what Brennan's wife said when he came back to the car and reported that "she" had taken their son to the zoo. The tone in which implies jealousy. Really? The man just popped a meth producer, dumped a dead meth dealer, robbed a meth lab, doctored records, B&E, struck in officer, BROKE YOU OUT OF CUSTODY, and then dragged your whiny useless ass through the streets to save you and your family and you want to inquire about a supposed relationship with a woman you don't know.

And then throw yourself out of a car?

The rest of your points I don't agree with and I can see that you have conceded most of them.
I would like to add:

10. The black supercop! Wtf?! Haggis was aiming for realism in this movie but still bothered to have a supercop with psychic powers in the film. Oh brother!

11. The attitude of just everyone!
Who the hell mouthes off like that at every turn? Cops, court people, guards, lawyers, sister-in-law. Show some manners!

12. The wife trying to talk him out of it when the deed is already done. "Oh no, what are you doing, John?!".
How can you not see, it's already done you whiny bitch! Go along with it. He has now given up everything for you.

13. The wife's suicide, twice! Wtf?! The first time is selfish but perhaps understandable, the second time you are just being an ungrateful whiny bitch! After all that! You are trying to off yourself?! What is this man supposed to do? What is your son going to have for a life with mommy dead and dad in prison or on the run?
If the stupid "button" scene at the end wasn't included I would say that this crazy bitch did the deed!

14. The casting of Elizabeth Banks.
The character was annoying and hard to like to begin with, then we have Banks who really is easy to hate; her facial features, voice, tone and the way she expresses emotions.

[–] lesmarriage 13 years ago

The ultimate winner was the killer; she got to stay home and stay free.

[–] shurbanm 13 years ago

I think the director and the script were to blame for what you mention about Banks character. I don't think it was the actor's fault.
I think the attempted suicide in jail is quite realistic.Put yourself in her shoes and think how you would react. If it were you and you were facing life in prison away from the people you love what would you do? Some people cannot face this. I think that was quite fitting however the throwing herself out the car was a bit over dramatic. I guess it could be justified in that she could not think of a way to convince him to go back for the child. He was being more pragmatic and she was being too emotional about it. It is also quite believable human reaction. There are many women who create drama out of much smaller things.

[–] carpet_seller 13 years ago

What I didn't like was the jumpy choppy beginning full of flash forwards and flash backs and you didn't know WTF was supposed to be going on.

7) I think that was Chrissie's(?) mum.

I would have preferred the whole broken taillight on the Prius to have been left out, I would have preferred the cops to have thought that the raid was done by the courier guy who died on the bus shelter bench, i.e. for them not have made the link that it was Russell Crowe. I know they used this storyline to get a head start on the escape plan, but maybe they could have done that a different way. If they had done this along with a succesful button finding scene they could have left open the possibility they could have returned home when she had been found not guilty.

[–] shurbanm 13 years ago

Another thing you should remember - it's a movie not a documentary.
If Crowe character was a professional hitman (or bodyguard like Neeson in Taken) we would hardly care so much. The fact he was an ordinary teacher and did this makes us root for him all the more.
If you look at movies from the standpoint of how realistic the characters are most movies would not pass but that is the whole point of entertainment. Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

[–] novimovieman 13 years ago

1) Not smarter, better prepared. There is a difference.
2) everybody makes those screw-ups in their lives. He was entitled to overlook a small yet significant detail. Besides he was extremely tense at that point and I wondered how he was able to concentrate at all.
3) The man clearly did not know what he was getting into. He was desperate and desperate people make bad decisions in the spur of the moment.
4) Who knows how these people think!
5) She was trying to end the plan because without her son her life was meaningless.
6) I believe the detective was motivated by the knowledge that anyone who would pull off a plan like Brennan did must believe his wife was innocent. John Brennan's effort deserved a second look at the facts of the case.
7) I believe that was included to reinforce the belief that leaving his sister-in-law behind for the rest of his life was not such a bad thing after all. She was a complete b!tch.
8) It made me think he would dump the plan and start seeing her. I would. Any screen time for her is appreciated.

Great movie. Have watched it at least six times. Plan on another dozen viewings.

As an apologist turned authority I don't defend my comments because I am always right.

[–] everlone_2000 13 years ago

The community college teacher outsmarting the cops is just good story-telling. The lead character should be hopelessly under-equipped to cope with the task ahead of him. Think of a farm-boy taking on a galactic empire, a son who has no interest in running his dad's criminal empire becoming the most effective mafia boss in the US, or a scrawny Israelite with no combat experience taking down the biggest, most bad-ass warrior in the Philistine army.

The potency of a story relies on the protaganist being the least likely to succeed, yet through a combination of guile, outside help, and determination the win through in the end. Complaining that the hero is the underdog is to miss the point of story-telling in a fundamental way.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] everlone_2000 13 years ago

or a scrawny Israelite with no combat experience taking down the biggest, most bad-ass warrior in the Philistine army.

Which film is this?

It's not a film, it's the story of David and Goliath.

[–] viciouslove 13 years ago

You don't think any college professors are smarter than detectives? Ha that is just funny, just go read up different criminal cases and read about things that detectives did and didn't do and how not very bright they can be. ALSO you don't HAVE to have a degree to be a detective. Yes some places require it but not all. You can just be a police officer for a certain amount of years and be promoted to detective. I thought everyone knew that? A of killers that have never been caught are obviously smarter than detectives since they got away with what they did.

I'm just going to say WOW. Bitch much? People have to nit pick every little thing in a movie that they don't like or don't think should have happened. Movies aren't perfect just like real life and people aren't. Stop complaining so much!
By the way I saw nothing wrong with the acting at all...

[–] waldenpond88 13 years ago

What's NOT to like? This is one helluva movie!!!

[–] Katiedot 13 years ago

5. After going through all that, his wife wants to throw herself out of the car?

The wife at this point has absolutely NO idea what he's done to spring her from prison.

Remember that her first reaction to the escape plan was to resist: she didn't want to come with him because she knew it was wrong. It was only when he made the point that he's in trouble anyway whether she comes or not and if she doesn't come then their child has no parents that she's persuaded to go with him. So, the child is the main reason she's escaping. Then when he turns round and says that they can't get the child she snaps and makes the point that they either escape with the child or not at all.

9. She? Yes, that is what Brennan's wife said when he came back to the car and reported that "she" had taken their son to the zoo. The tone in which implies jealousy. Really? The man just popped a meth producer, dumped a dead meth dealer, robbed a meth lab, doctored records, B&E, struck in officer, BROKE YOU OUT OF CUSTODY, and then dragged your whiny useless ass through the streets to save you and your family and you want to inquire about a supposed relationship with a woman you don't know.

That not of jealousy was absolutely perfect. She's in love with him and knows he's a good man. In other words, a catch. Of course she's concerned that other women are chasing him and with a wife in prison for 20 years it wouldn't be unfair of him to look elsewhere. Aside from losing her son, that's probably her biggest fear while in prison; losing the man she loves to another woman. That must be unbearable if you're guilty; torture if you're innocent.

She has no idea what he's done to get her out and just because he breaks her out of jail doesn't mean he couldn't have cheated on her during their 3 years apart. That scene with the glasses shows how far apart their lives have drifted and how little she knows of him now.

George Clooney fansite, news & gossip updated daily: www.clooneysopenhouse.com, www.facebook.com/clooneysopenhouse and www.twitter.com/clooneysopenhse