MovieChat Forums > The Next Three Days (2010) Discussion > the button never mattered

the button never mattered

posted 10 years ago by Rayvio
18 replies | jump to latest

even if they had found the button during the original investigation, it wouldn't have made any difference. at best it would suggest that one aspect of her story might have been true
but even if the button somehow could miraculously clear her, it still wouldn't warrant the end scene with the detective almost finding it. even if they did prove her innocent, it'd be too late. she'd still be guilty of the jailbreak and could potentially face charges as an accomplice to the other crimes he committed to break her out. pretty sure there's no statute of limitations on escaping from prison so they'd still have to stay in hiding

~~~
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."

[–] earlogistix 9 years ago

I agree, the button doesn't clear her at all.

The story would have been better if she did do it or at least left us not knowing.

I'm guessing studio interference made them put in the stuff about her being innocent to make it more morally palatable.

Otherwise, I can't work out why they had the scene at the beginning with the argument. There's no reason for that scene other than to show that she had a temper, which would only be necessary if it was there to create ambiguity or foreshadow that she did it.

[–] karlkuehl 9 years ago

If I'm not mistaken jailbreak is not a crime. There is no sentence for it.

[–] speculator-1 9 years ago

Jailbreak is very much a crime, and there is a very heavy sentence for it!

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[–] karlkuehl 9 years ago

In some European countries, no, it isn't.

[–] Humphrey_Fish 9 years ago

Your comment is pointless.

Quien es mas Sherlock?

Hombre de Hierro

O

Doctor Extraño

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] themadride 9 years ago

The button itself never mattered. It was just a way to possibly track down the other woman. Maybe there was a print on the button. A long shot for sure, but just the kind of long shot you might hope for in that hopeless situation.

Don't you remember him talking to the lawyer about "what if they find her"?

[–] emokillss 8 years ago

i wathched an episode on CI, and a simple button was a lead to find out the suspect. even i was surprise how good those detectives

[–] MaximusXXX 9 years ago

I'd think putting a wrongfully convicted person in jail first, trumps crimes committed later.

[–] Queen-of-the-USA 9 years ago

that's exactly what i thought!
even stevens. move on.

[–] Queen-of-the-USA 9 years ago

she could sue for wrongful imprisonment!
they'd be better off letting it go!

[–] logical-1 9 years ago

It didn't really matter I think. But it gave a little extra credibility (to the audience) that she was innocent.

It also kind of made me remember the final scene of Inception, with top spinning and almost about to fall, not sure why.

[–] HenryCW 8 years ago

I do not think that the discovery of the button was intended to "matter". In the film, I think it just served as a pure plot device to let the viewers know that Lara was speaking the truth. Up to that point, we know that the couple and their kid got away but do not know whether Lara was innocent - at one time she even told the husband that she was the murderer in order to make him stop. Without the button scene, the film might just have been a story of some woman who got away with murder by escape from jail with the help of her husband. As it was, they broke numerous laws but at least had the excuse that she had been wrongly prosecuted.

Even if the detective found the button, he would not have been able to do anything. It might have helped if he found it a day or so after the murder, so that the button could have been traced to the junkie whose coat should be missing one button and therefore identified as a possible suspect. But it was already three years later and neither the junkie (just some random stranger) nor the coat could possibly be located. The button would just be some garbage among a thousand other items found in the drain.

[–] mickey123mouse123 8 years ago

For sure the button could have mattered. Of course, it could have mattered ALOT more if found when the crime scene was searched for the first time. But nonetheless, it could have mattered.

Here's why. If the coat, that the junkie wore that night, was stolen, maybe the police could've found out whom it was stolen from. (maybe it was a very expensive coat and thus registered as stolen, for example)
And if they actually found the rightful owner of the coat, it would've been made clear where it was stolen and therefore they could've got a face of the suspect from cameras etc.
And when that suspect is found, it would've been easy to connect her to the actual murder. Maybe even by DNA.

It would actually have been nice to see this in the movie, knowing Lara was really cleared, so she could continue a normal life which she is entitled to.

[–] AlexEvensen 8 years ago

I think it was something for the ending, to make us think it would do what so many US movies do, clear them at the end and fix everything.

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