The Next Three Days and Shawshank Redemption

The Next Three Days and Shawshank Redemption

            Steven Kings’ seven times nominated, Shawshank Redemption focuses on Andy a man convicted of killing his wife and her lover. While in The Next Three Days , Laura is convicted of killing her boss. Both persons share the possibility that they are innocent. Also they are both given extreme punishments, Andy ends up with two life sentences, Laura in prison. Both characters suffer harshly, and seem to change. Andy watches an inmate die, from police brutality, Laura’s relationship with her son diminishes.

 In both films the audience is not sure of their innocence. In Andy’s case, we are not sure if he is innocent because of his strange character, with Laura it is the same, she even asks her husband if he ever thought she might be guilty. Both characters display a cold attitude, after being contained, only adding to the suspicion of whether or not they are guilty.  When it comes down to the escape process, this is important in both films. In The Next Three Days, Laura’s husband meets with a man who has escaped numerous times, and helps him devise a sure fire plan, but he must be able to carry the persona of a criminal in order to accomplish it. In  Shawshank Redemption Andy goes to Red, and Red unwittingly gives him the contraband to complete his thought out plan of escape, a rock hammer. A difference between the two is that it is Laura’s husbands’ job to ensure the plans’ success; she even attempts suicide as they are about to fore go picking up their son. In Andy’s case, he is responsible for his successful escape. He was able to leave and stay concealed, while Laura and her husband were chased by the cops,they still managed to escape. This is also a major difference, because Andy, was hopeful he took joy in finding freedom. He was able to find a classical record, while in the warden’s office, he locks himself in the room and plays the record for all the inmates to enjoy as well. While Laura seems to just accept that she will never again be happy, as she makes her first attempt at suicide in prison.

            The audience is given the answers to both characters question of innonce at the end of the films. In Laura’s situation, she claimed that a homeless woman bumped into her jacket, even ripping off one of her buttons, explaining the blood stain. We see two detectives who have become intrigued with this story, as one plays the scenario out in his head he then tries searching for the button in a gutter. We see the button, but he fails to look hard enough, the audience has just been notified of Laura’s innocence. With Andy, he finally confesses to Red that he did not kill his wife, but that his lack of personality drove her away, leading to the affair, leading to her death. So ultimately Andy takes the blame, but is innocent.

The Next Three Days

The Next Three Days

            The Next Three Days was directed by Paul Haggis, releasing this 19 November 2010.  The tone of this film is crime drama and romance. The prominent actors included in the film are: John Brennan( Russel Crow), who is a simple teacher who is struggling to declare the innocence of his wife. Playing Laura Brennan is Elilzabeth Banks.  This film is set in a recent time setting, in Pittsburg.

            The film begins by showing us Laura Brennan, we catch a glimpse as she bumps into a homeless lady, while simultaneously leaving a crime scene.  The next morning we see Laura scrubbing blood off her trench coat, a little later that morning she becomes apprehended by the police. This is because her finger prints were found on the murder weapon of her boss. Her husband John, struggles to deal with her absence, as he continues to look after their child alone. He also truly and fully believes in his wife’s innocence.  One visit to the prison where his wife is being contained is plenty to riddle John with the guilt as he must continue to watch his wife and son suffer. Laura has even attempted suicide at the thought of not being with her son, even when she is with him it is clear he is dealing with things. Her son loses his connection with her, every family member is deeply affected by her presence in prison.  However we also see that Laura has a strong willed personality. It resonates compared to her husband, who continues to become withdrawn and  stay humble. Finally John cannot resist the option of escape. He encounters with a man who has fled prison several times and has written a book on it.  This is where he begins devising his plan to free his wife.

            We see John travel to local drug spots around town, trying to find fake passports; he quickly feels the reality of consorting with crime. We see him fight for his life, and even kill, all to free his wife. We see a twist as his wife confronts his weak spirit, after John blames himself for their son’s poor academic life. His wife is outraged, and asks John if he ever even considered that she might be guilty. John Leaves, but then decides he will stay true, and believe that she is totally innocent. It is unclear whether she is innocent at the point, but John continues to build his character and proceed with his plans of escape.