The GreyWritten by Ian Mackenzie Jeffers and Joe Carnahan
Directed by Joe Carnahan
Starring
Liam Neeson... Ottway
Dallas Roberts... Hendrick
Frank Grillo... Diaz
Dermot Mulroney... Talget
Nonso Anozie... Burke
Joe Anderson... Flannery
Story
On their way home from Northern Alaska part an oil drilling team survives a plane crash. Led by Ottway, the survivors try to find shelter from the elements, and safety from a pack of wolves.
This movie isn't really about the storyline. It's more about the characters, and how they interact with each other. The wolves hunting down the survivors of the plane crash is pretty ridiculous, but my favorite movie of all time is set in another galaxy in space, so I'm good at willfully suspending my disbelief. If you're willing to believe that the wolves would act this way then the story works.
Acting
It all starts with Liam Neeson. The movie is put on his shoulders and I thought he did an excellent job. The role seemed fairly personal for him after his wife died a couple of years ago. The others don't steal any of the spotlight from the star, but give decent to good performances. Frank Grillo and Dallas Roberts giving the best secondary performances. All the characters have unique personalities, both good and bad traits, which puts a little more weight as they are picked off one by one by the wolves and mother nature.
Review
By now I'm sure you have guessed that I enjoyed this movie more than most. However, I can't believe Harry Knowles (aintitcool.com) put it in his top ten list. It's obvious he wanted to gloat that he got to see it well before everyone else. It doesn't deserve any awards, but it is much better entertainment than we usually get early in the year. I will agree with Mr. Knowles that the trailer doesn't sell the movie correctly. If you're going to see it for Liam Neeson fist fighting with wolves you will be very upset, as some of the other patrons in the theater that I was in were. All in all, I thought it was very good, and definitely worth checking out in the theaters.
Rating
**** out of 5
May the Force be with you,
CHUD
Trailers aren't supposed to represent the movies apparently. Movie marketing seems to have taken a lesson from "Gabbo" on "The Simpsons."
ReplyDeleteWhatever it takes to get people in the seats, I guess. After they get your money, what do they care. I'd say this is better for the movie than being the run of the mill survivor movie. At least they didn't start eating each other Donner Party sytle.
ReplyDelete