Stars: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Ty Simpkins, Jason Beghe, Olivia Wilde, Aisha Hinds, Daniel Stern, Brian Dennehy, Helen Carey
Running time: 133 mins
Rating: ★★★

THAT Oscar-winning writer-director Paul Haggis should chose to follow his highlyregarded Crash with a remake of a French thriller seems an odd decision.

How it compares I can’t say, not having seen the original, Anything For Her (Pour Elle). Haggis’ version works well enough as a gripping, fast-paced thriller with Russell Crowe’s husband fighting against a criminal system that sees his innocent (or so she says) wife jailed for murder.

At 133 minutes, this remake is too long and I still find it difficult to warm to Crowe as a leading man.

Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) is a happily married wife to John (Crowe) and mother to young son Luke (Ty Simpkins). Then she’s arrested for the murder of her boss. With her fingerprints on the murder weapon among the evidence, she’s found guilty and sentenced to life.

Her appeal fails, leaving him as a single parent and her facing life behind bars.

Being a dutiful husband, English teacher John decides to get her out. Or rather break her out, using inside knowledge gleaned from an ex-con (a cameo from Liam Neeson).

The scene is set for an edge-of-the-seat suspense thriller as he puts his great escape plan into action. There’s a car chase, red herrings and the possibility that John will get caught at any moment.