The Grey
Director: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Liam Neeson
Details: US / 117mins (15A)
A plane of oil drillers goes down over a remote part of Alaska where a pack of aggressive wolves see them as intruders on their territory. They must fight them off, while trying to survive the harsh climate. Cue a showdown between Liam Neeson and a pack of the hairy bastards. At this point, Chuck Norris would be shitting himself if the man who was once Oskar Schindler walked into the room.
I did have visuals of teen girls entering this violent and somewhat coarse thriller expecting one of the wolves to eventually turn into Taylor Lautner, only to be then shocked when they started devouring people. That aside, The Grey is a tight, very efficient thriller that pushes Neeson's tough guy persona more than the likes of Taken or Unknown but sans the more cheesy elements of those somehat guilty pleasures. The difference here is Joe Carnahan, an extremely talented director who toyed with the Hollywood studio system but who's obviously more comfortable in edgier far such as this.
Shooting on location in a harsh looking British Columbia in Canada was a wise move - Cliffhanger this is not. There's an obvious air of realism that shooting on location gives and that's only enhanced by the visceral animal attacks. Carnahan knows visceral, and knows it well; a pack of wolves attacking injured oilman obviously lends itself well to that kind of tone and it's embraced well enough - and complimented by the presence of Neeson - here to worl extremely well as a crowd pleasing, but edgy effort.
Very enjoyable and well made thriller that will please fans of Neeson and offers a new lease of life for its talented director.
Review by Mike Sheridan
Your Comments
ted29
First of all Neeson doesnt "hand a pack of wolves their collective arses". One wolf is killed and Neeson doesnt even kill that. Saying that this is a great movie, a typical genre piece that will either push your buttons from the get go or it wont. The British Colombian setting is incredible, you almost get wind chill in the cinema as there is no let up in the intensity of the elements. Neeson gives a wonderful performance thats full of regret and sadness, apparantly director Carnahan pulled upon the recent loss of his wife to achieve what he wanted the irish actor to display. A wonderful film, not for everybody but the worst thing you can say about it is its not my cup of tea.
Posted 27/01/2012 16:15:44
DoubleLetter
^^ "one wolf is killed and neeson doesn't even kill that" -- stop giving away plot details you t**t!!!
Posted 28/01/2012 20:03:10
ted29
Doubleletter you great dingus, watch the movie and its hardly a plot destroyer. Gobs**te.
Posted 28/01/2012 22:39:09
kee
A really great film, different to what I expected from the trailer, but better. Think it might divide the audience which might expect a different type of movie.
Posted 29/01/2012 02:18:23
FilmBuff76
Liam Neeson vs The Wolves is how Joe Carnahan's new film is being pitched... but that's only one element of this riveting survival thriller. Neeson and a motley crew of his co-workers fight for survival after their plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness. As they're picked off one-by-one by a pack of predatory wolves, their situation becomes increasingly desperate. However, it's not all gung-ho action and inner conflict in the team. It's a deliberately paced and often reflective meditation on the survival instinct, with more than a few surprises in store. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the ending, which is an anti-climax. Some people will no doubt be disappointed by it, but if you think of everything that has come before then it makes perfect sense. Neeson as always is superb and it's good to see Carnahan back making a solid, well-thought-out film after the mediocre The A-Team. Well worth a look - it's unlike anything else in cinemas at the moment.
Posted 29/01/2012 21:06:04
Bruce
Socky, you are a MORON. This is a great film. Ted and Filmbuff are bang on. You are probably the type of guy who likes cage fighting and playing a ps3 all day. This is a philosophical film and a mediatation on death with some great performances. Honestly, some people.
Posted 30/01/2012 20:15:48
Anne77
This is not the best film and it wasn't just us that thought it as a few people walked out half ways through. It's extremely slow, quite boring at times and the only good thing is the scenery. Wait for it on DVD
Posted 02/02/2012 19:11:36
Fozz
Anne, they walked out as they were expecting something different to what they were served. Those people based their decision to see this on the trailer alone, if even that...maybe just the poster. You get out of things what you put in. This is not an action film but is being marketed as such as the marketeers know that's what gets people to part with their cash. If they then walk out halfway through as they cannot endure thinking...then that is their loss.
Posted 02/02/2012 22:32:33
jack brown
This movie was waste of my time . 2 stars at best . wolves were highly unrealistic , they should have borrowed CGI from twilight episodes for wolves . The guys did not even bother carrying sticks to defend themselves !. total failure in logic , storyline and cinematography
Posted 04/02/2012 20:59:11
DoubleLetter
Ted29 - the movie is about a man stranded in the antarctic fighting against a pack of wolves and you tell me saying "one wolf is killed and neeson doesn't even kill that" doesnt give anything away? Troll on mate... Ye tick!!
Posted 06/02/2012 17:55:44
ted29
Doubleletter go and see the movie and you will see that the trailer was marketed a certain way....to attract morons like you. The film is probably a bit too meditative for the likes of your simple requirements. a**hole.
Posted 07/02/2012 14:16:23
DoubleLetter
I'm not referring to how it was marketed or what the plot of the movie is!? I'm simply saying you gave away that Neeson doesn't kill any of the wolves and that only one wolf dies. Yet you continue to deny that fact by fostering a pretentious attitude toward your understanding of the movie. Your an absolute turd.
Posted 07/02/2012 15:56:26
mebbsey
im a big neeson fan, didnt think it was 1if his best films but was still very enjoyable. well worth the watch!
Posted 12/02/2012 18:05:48
ted29
Ah doubleletter, poor baby. Did i upset your pre movie openmindedness? Cop yourself on. And as for my interpretation of the movie? Try the fact it is also the directors intention to foster said view. Clown.
Posted 12/02/2012 20:55:23
lisa
This movie is brilliant. I can't believe no-one mentioned the closing scene when the dolphins and aliens combined forces to save neesons butt. Time now to rewatch dancin with wolves
Posted 15/02/2012 18:51:59
seamus.the.platypus
"Liam Neeson's career continues down the manly man path, as he hands a pack of wolves their respective arses" Er... have you actually seen the movie ?! Because I would really like you to tell me when exactly in the movie that happens... This movie is not an action movie or even an all out thriller. It's a drama, a tale of survival, loneliness and remorse in the face of imminent death. It's still a very efficient and well shot movie, with a raw edge to it, but I'm afraid a lot of people got fooled by the trailer and ended up disappointed.
Posted 24/02/2012 17:09:45
critical mass
God! I struggled through this. Look! I lurve Liam Neeson. He's the Biz right! But Hell! This is one s**te movie. Sheeeeeiiiitttee! Really, really sheeeeite! I so wanted to love it. But! .. B O R I N G! with a really, really, really, s**t (s**te) ending as well. ( Do I say 'really' too often? Ah! Well! It;s s**te!
Posted 19/05/2012 00:32:53
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Your Reviews...
Great Neeson and wolves, ok film - Colm2305
The Grey starts off promisingly enough with Ottway (Neeson) wandering the grounds of a remote Alaskan oil drilling... MORE04/02/2012 12:56:57