DVD Round-Up: "Seven" (1995) - Starring Morgan Freeman and "The Next Three Days" (2010) - Starring Russell Crowe

Seven (1995)

The Basics: Thriller surrounding the search for a serial killer that finds a grizzled, soon to be retired police detective, William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), joining forces with a much younger and recently transferred Detective David Mills. The duo desperately search for the killer, who is patterning his murders on the seven deadly sins; gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy.

Reasons to Watch: The superb cast is led with quiet determination by Morgan Freeman and the manic undertones of Brad Pitt. The cold, calculating killer (no spoilers here) is able to utilize his intelligence and knowledge of psychology to keep everyone off balance. Gwyneth Paltrow brings a refreshing air of innocence to her role, as David's lonely wife, Tracy.

The Bottom Line: Great performances, an intricate and intelligent screenplay, by Andrew Kevin Walker, and the deft direction of David Fincher make Seven an unforgettable psychological thriller that will get under your skin and may stay with you long after the film ends. During the film, I thought the killer might be either Mills or Somerset, which is to the credit of the screenplay and to the performances from Freeman and Pitt. If you have never seen the film, consider them both suspects.

The Next Three Days (2012)

The Basics: A wife and mother, Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks), is convicted of a murder that she may or may not have committed. Her distraught husband, John (Russell Crowe), becomes obsessed with an intricate plot that he designed to help her escape from prison.

Reasons to Watch: The terrific cast, including Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson and Brian Dennehy, deliver strong work. The movie was filmed on location in Pittsburgh, PA and, as a former resident, I appreciated seeing so many familiar sites.

The Bottom Line: An overly long and completely unrealistic film that managed to hold my attention, despite those flaws. Viewers who can suspend their disbelief may find it more enjoyable than those who cannot.