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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Reviews    Movie, Television and DVD Reviews  ›  The Grey Moderators: Nixon
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albinopenguin
Posted: January 28th, 2012, 3:58pm Report to Moderator
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So just 27 days into the new year and already we have one of the biggest surprises to hit the theaters.

Let me begin this review by saying that I had VERY low expectations for The Grey. When I first saw the trailer, i literally rolled my eyes and dismissed the film. You see, I believe that Liam Neeson has become the new whore of Hollywood. He's in everything from Clash of the Titans to Battleship (ugh). Don't get me wrong, I love Liam Neeson. But I love the dramatic Liam Neeson (see Kinsey). Not the cliched badass action hero he's become. The man is 59 for god's sake. He was awesome in Taken and Hollywood decided to drive that role straight into the ground. So when I first heard about The Grey, I was expecting another Liam Neeson VS the world film, but instead of the entire country of France, he was fighting every wolf that's ever been born.

But I digress.

The Grey revolves around a depressed marksman named Ottway. Ottway lives on an oil rig where he protects his fellow employees by sniping the s hit out of the wilderness that surrounds them. Ottway and several of his coworkers crowd into a plane and travel home, when surprise! The plane crashes onto the most unforgiving mountain in the world (including Splash Mountain). Ottway and a handful of men are left stranded and must seek refuge in the harsh terrain.

So a pretty straightforward story by all means. However The Grey is anything but your standard survival movie.

Instead, you'll find a film that's beautifully filmed, tightly woven, and incredibly relentless. Seriously The Grey packs a powerful punch. There are two scenes that exemplify this. The first is the plane crash. This movie features, BY FAR, the most realistic and terrifying plane crash ever depicted on the big screen. I've watched all the video nasties and never once have I had to turn away from a film. This is the FIRST time I almost tucked my head between my legs and cried like a little b itch in the movie theatre (Marley and Me not included). The sound alone is practically unbearable. After the scene was over, everyone in the audience let out an audible "sigh." Immediately following this crash comes the second best scene of the film. I'm not going to spoil anything, but Liam Neeson has to guide an injured passenger through death. The scene is both heart wrenching and unique. It is by no means cliched and might bring about a few man tears. After surviving these two scenes, I came to realize that The Grey deserved my unbridled attention.

Now granted, these scenes occur at the 30 minute mark. So the film spikes a bit early. What follows is a relentless and unwavering tale of survival.

So about the wolves. Obviously this is a huge part of the film. At first I was a little weary of their presence. They seemed a little TOO strategic and a little TOO cunning. After the film was over, I did some research and found out that wolves really do act the way they did in The Grey. I didn't realize how big of a threat they could pose and I totally underestimated their horrific potential. They really WILL seek out the weakest in a group and attack that one individual before fleeing.

As far as the direction is concerned, Joe Carnahan did a superb job. Now Carnahan's filmography includes Narc, Smokin Aces, and the A-Team. So he's a bit of a mixed back. But he's in full form this time around.

The acting is superb in The Grey, although Neeson ultimately steals the show.

The Grey is also surprisingly deep and complex at times. it wrestles with some big topics and everything feels very believable. When Neeson calls on God, you can relate.

Now the film isn't perfect. The animatronics/CGI is a little iffy and took me out of the film a bit. Furthermore, I wish the film focused on survival as a whole rather than emphasizing the wolves. I wish this film was Neeson VS nature, not Neeson VS wolves. Lastly, there are a few cheap scares and some pieces of dialogue which are a bit too on the nose.

but then we come to the final showdown. I won't spoil anything, but the last 10 minutes of the film are downright spectacular. It reminded me of Into the Wild, where an individual prepares for his final showdown with nature. The cinematography is gorgeous and strangely poetic.

So my final verdict...

The Grey is relentless, action packed wallop of a film. Although it can be tough to get through, you'll walk away satisfied if you stick through to the end.

Lastly, and most importantly, WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE CREDITS ARE OVER BEFORE LEAVING THE THEATERS. There's an additional scene at the end that really makes the film. In fact, it's probably the most important last frame I've ever seen in a film (after the credits are over that is). It says so much by showing so little.

I'm wavering between a B+ and an A- on this on. Go see it in theater.



Revision History (3 edits; 1 reasons shown)
albinopenguin  -  January 28th, 2012, 6:40pm
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leitskev
Posted: January 28th, 2012, 6:29pm Report to Moderator
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Wow, great review. Makes me want to leave the house right now an see the film. Will see it soon. Nice work, Penguin!
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albinopenguin
Posted: January 28th, 2012, 6:44pm Report to Moderator
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Thanks Leitskev! You should definitely go see it. Unless you have an imax screen in your living room, you need to see it in theaters. at home won't do it justice. my friend has acrophobia and he was a little uneasy at times haha


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CoopBazinga
Posted: January 29th, 2012, 10:35am Report to Moderator
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Great review, Will. I'm looking forward to this one, even more now after a good review from yourself.

One problem...have to wait until the 16th of Feb to see it, that's the release date here in Oz >

Steve
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stevie
Posted: January 29th, 2012, 4:20pm Report to Moderator
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Yeah, top review a.p!

I won't be seeing the film but I really enjoyed your comments!!



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albinopenguin
Posted: January 29th, 2012, 10:13pm Report to Moderator
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Thanks guys! Appreciate the kind words. Let me know if you end up seeing the film.


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Brendan
Posted: February 7th, 2012, 9:36pm Report to Moderator
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Its a damn good movie. I didn't expect much from the trailer, but after all the good reviews came in I decided it be worth checking out. And it was for sure.
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Scar Tissue Films
Posted: February 9th, 2012, 7:22pm Report to Moderator
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Good movie...I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Existential look at life and death in an environment where man is taken back into more primitive times to face a deadly foe.

SPOILERS

Numerous things in the film don't make much sense...they cross a major rivine with a River...only to be attacked by the Wolves at the bottom. Qute how the Wolves got there isn't clear.

Neeson's character also seems to be strangely immune from hypothermia. He gets drenched in a river in freezing temperatures, but is able to relax on the bank and carry on as though nothing has happened.

Despite the presence of several of these types of events, the film doesn't lose you.

Well worth the visit to the Cinema.
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MacDuff
Posted: February 9th, 2012, 10:01pm Report to Moderator
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SPOILERS!!

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Much better than I predicted; despite a few minor issues with believability and character decision making.

The first 30 minutes in particular are very intense and keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat.

MORE SPOILERS!!!!

I also think the 3rd Act/Climax is quiet ballsy from a script POV. Interesting decisions made there.

My concerns on story:

-I wasn't sold on the decision to leave the plane and Ottway's feeling that no one would come for them anytime soon. I disagree, even if it's a chartered flight, it's still tracked.

- I didn't like the jumping the ravine idea. No way that guy makes the initial jump... and how the wolves got across so fast.

- Hypothermia anyone?

In all honesty, that's all the gripes that I have with the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Like I mentioned above, the first 30 minutes are great:

- A very realistic and griping plane crash.
- A very dramatic death, one of the best death scenes I have seen in a long, long time.
- The first wolf attack and the moment where the eyes light up. Crazy.

Again, I enjoyed the fact that they did not close the story with an epic man vs alpha wolf fight. It's not what the story was about. So people where a little let down in our showing, but I did not mind it.

Stew


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Ryan1
Posted: February 10th, 2012, 10:53pm Report to Moderator
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A solid survival flick, but I didn't like it as much as some of the other reviewers.  I'd call it "Alive" but with wolves.  Both movies are highly existential and introspective.  One of the survivors of the crash even references Alive.  

The crash scene, IMO, was the most memorable part of the film.  Not sure how they created those sounds, but Jesus, you really feel like you're in a plane about to slam into the ground.

Also, the scene where the wolves' glowing eyes appear in the darkness was a classic, "holy shitt" moment.

But after they leave the wreckage, I began to find the existential banter droning and redundant.  The script starts to connect its dots in a very familiar way, as the wolf pack picks the men off one by one, but giving them enough time in between attacks to allow them to reminisce about their lives.

The size of the pack seemed to fluctuate, and as someone else mentioned, they often seemed too cerebral.   I've seen Neeson in interviews mention that this pack is comprised of some sort of super-wolves, but the script never clarifies that.

The inconsistency with the river scene was already mentioned, and it is annoying that the director didn't bother to show us how Neeson just shook off the cold.

The ending, meh.  That would have been a fight worth seeing.

Overall, Neeson does a good job of carrying the film in his bruising, stoic style.  But I wouldn't say the story blazed any trails that haven't been tread before.  A good rental.
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marvink
Posted: February 13th, 2012, 10:15am Report to Moderator
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Saw this last night. Loved the movie especially the plane crash, however I really didn't like the ending at all.  I agree with the other reviews about the hypothermia, a little unrealistic I thought that the icy river seemingly had no effect on him. Overall I thought it was good, not great,  but worth seeing.  Marvin.

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Andrew
Posted: February 13th, 2012, 11:39am Report to Moderator
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OK. I did not wait for those last credits... what the hell happened?


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Scar Tissue Films
Posted: February 13th, 2012, 1:17pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Andrew
OK. I did not wait for those last credits... what the hell happened?


MAJOR SPOILERS


MAJOR SPOILERS









The last image shows the flanks of the alpha wolf taking its last couple of breaths.

In other words, the main guy survives.

Pretty much changes the entire message of the film.
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Heretic
Posted: February 13th, 2012, 1:31pm Report to Moderator
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MORE MAJOR SPOILERS

MORE MAJOR SPOILERS




Wasn't it Ottway's head resting on the wolf?  To me the final image left it inconclusive as to whether or not Ottway was alive, or they were dying together, or one had survived and one hadn't.  
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albinopenguin
Posted: February 13th, 2012, 1:37pm Report to Moderator
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SPOILERS

I assumed that both Ottway and the wolf were dying together.


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