3 Days to Kill (2014)
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A dying CIA agent must balance a final high-stakes mission to stop a terrorist with the responsibility of caring for his estranged daughter.
The story
American CIA agent Ethan Renner is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and is given only months to live. Seeking to spend his remaining time repairing his fractured relationship with his estranged daughter, Zooey, and his ex-wife, Christine, he agrees to one final mission. In exchange for an experimental life-extending drug, Renner must hunt down a ruthless terrorist known as the Wolf. While his wife is away on business, Renner takes on the role of guardian for Zooey, attempting to navigate her teenage problems while simultaneously coordinating a dangerous operation to capture the Wolf's lieutenants and prevent a terrorist attack.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
CIA agent Ethan Renner, suffering from terminal glioblastoma, is tasked by elite assassin Vivi Delay to capture 'the Wolf,' an arms trafficker selling a dirty bomb. Renner is struggling to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Zooey, and ex-wife, Christine, after years of keeping his career a secret. While Christine is away, Renner cares for Zooey, dealing with her rebellious behavior while fighting the hallucinogenic side effects of an experimental drug he takes to extend his life. The drug causes hallucinations whenever his heart rate rises, which he manages with alcohol. Renner tracks the Wolf's lieutenants, including 'the Albino,' through a series of dangerous encounters in Belgrade and Paris. After a confrontation in a subway where Renner manages to cripple the Albino but the Wolf escapes, the family is invited to a party hosted by the Wolf's business partner. Renner successfully protects Christine and Zooey, trapping the Wolf in a falling elevator. However, overcome by guilt and a promise to his wife to quit, Renner refuses to kill the Wolf, allowing Vivi to do so instead. Renner survives to Christmas at a beach house with his family, where he finds a new vial of medicine, while Vivi watches from a distance.
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 117
- Production countries
- France; United States; Serbia
- Original languages
- English; French; German
- Directors
- McG
- Writers
- Luc Besson · screenplay; Adi Hasak · screenplay; Luc Besson · story
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Costner · Ethan Renner; Amber Heard · Vivi Delay; Hailee Steinfeld · Zooey Renner; Connie Nielsen · Christine Renner; Richard Sammel · Wolfgang "The Wolf" Braun; Marc Andréoni · Mitat Yilmaz; Eriq Ebouaney · Jules; Tómas Lemarquis · "The Albino"
- Genres
- action; thriller
- Themes
- Family reconciliation; Mortality; Espionage; Sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- Action-packed; Somber; Tense
- Premise and plot tags
- Spy Thriller; Family Drama; Medical Drama; Terrorism
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with critics noting a disconnect between its action sequences and its family drama. It grossed $53.3 million against a $28 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 27% · review count: 124; Metacritic · score: 40 · scale: 100 · review count: 30; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A to F
- Production trivia
- The film was produced by EuropaCorp and Relativity Media.; The production began in early 2013.; The film was shot in Paris and Belgrade.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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