Directed by Paul Haggis and starring Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks & Liam Neeson

Life seems perfect for John Brennan (Crowe) until his wife, Lara (Banks) is arrested for a murder she says she didn’t commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while pursuing every avenue to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison.

This is a remake of the brilliant French Film “Anything For Her”. Oddly – or maybe because it was so great – they have remade it practically frame for frame, but have just spent more time on the end chase than the beginning slow boil; which the French do so well. I’d love to be pedantic and say this isn’t a scratch on the original, but it is quite (as) gripping as the original, but just lacks the intensity of “Anything For Her”. Nevertheless a good film, especially if you haven’t seen the original.

Verdict: If you can do subtitles, see the original. If not, a reasonable substitute. ***