Here's an interesting movie that's been in my Netflix que for some time.  Glad I moved it up and watched it, cause it's a good flick when it's all said and done.

Supposedly shot on a budget of either $30 or $35 Million, it was an NABO bomb at only $21 Million.  It did pull in another $42 Million overseas, giving it a decent but underwhelming $63 Million WW.  But, it was viewed as a major dud.

Written and directed by Paul Haggis, and starring Russell Crowe, among a solid list of actors, both well known and not so well known.  We get a small cameo from Liam Neeson, as well as a nice part played by an old fave of mine, Brian Dennehy, who's really lost weight, and looks old for 73...but he delivers a very understated, strong performance.

This is a long movie at 2 hours and 13 minutes.  It's very slow in the first hour, and was a real chug, filled with some horribly unrealistic plot points, there only to move the plot forward.  I had trouble "liking" this, as I was really irritated with a number of them, knowing that they were so false.

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For instance, Lara (Elizabeth Banks), John's (Russell Crowe) wife, is put away for murder very early on, but the jail she's remitted to is "County Jail", in downtown Pittsburgh.  Total BS.  Also, in this "non maximum security" prison (which should and would be a Federal Maximum Security prison), John's not only allowed to visit what seems to be every week, but they're also allowed to be together, hug, kiss, hang out.  This prison also sends its prisoners regularly to a real hospital, which is also downtown.

It's these plot points that are so glaringly false, it's tough to believe in the movie early on.

John's a college professor, and a very mild mannered guy.  He realizes that they're not going to be able to get his wife released legally, so he decides he's going to have to bust her out, on his own, and escape with their young son to a third world country to live out their life together...and never talk to or see their friends and family again.

Again, not very believable, but once things are set in motion, this movie really kicks into overdrive, and the last hour or so is an all out action flick that really delivers and actually "works" as well.

Although you've got to really suspend belief and disbelief throughout, when it's all said and done, I was quite pleased and even impressed.

Production values are excellent.  I was actually very surprised when I looked up the budget, as it feels and looks like a big budget movie at close to $100,000 Million.  Multiple angled shots in all scenes, aerial views, crane shots, tracking shots, you name it.

Great performances from everyone, from the cops to the main stars.  And as I mentioned earlier, Brian Dennehy, who plays John's Dad, gives a rock solid performance, even though he's only in several scenes with minimal dialogue.  There are 2 pivotal scenes in which he says almost nothing, but the old pro earns his paycheck and proves that sometimes you don't need alot of dialogue to get a point across.

For this to work, you have to buy into the story and characters, and I'll tell you, although I wasn't for the first half, I sure did when things start ticking.  I was totally rooting for them to escape, and based on the tone of the movie throughout, I really didn't know if they actually would or not, which is key to a flick like this.  Several reveals or "twists" near the end kept me guessing, and hoping , and I can't really ask for much more.

A surprise hit for me that was well done and well executed throughout.  Too bad more peeps didn't give it a chance.  I recommend it highly.