[xrr rating=3/5]
Leave this one for the wolves.
Liam Neeson is an actor. Maybe one of the better actors of our generation.
With film credits in “Gangs of New York,” “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” “Batman Begins,” and “Schindler’s List,” it may seem that this man knows how to pick his roles.
I’ll give you a few more of his movies: “Taken,” “Unknown,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Chloe,” and “The A-Team.” Personally, I think all these movies are very good films too.
Now let’s look at what’s coming up for him. “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Wrath of the Titans,” the sequel to “Taken,” and (the sci-fi guy’s fave) “Battleship.” All coming out in 2012 (except maybe the “Taken” sequel).
Ok, after rattling off all those wonderful movies Mr. Neeson has been in, one would assume that his new film (in theatres this past weekend) would be another winner. I mean, with previews for “The Grey” every time you turned on the TV, you would think, “DING-DING-DING! We’ve got another Liam Neeson blockbuster on our hands!”
Well, that may be true… in the financial sense of the term “blockbuster.”
“The Grey” cost an estimated $34,000,000 to make. That’s a lot of zeros! And that’s a lot of money. But not in La-La Land! That’s actually pretty modest. If you have a stud actor with the cache of Liam Neeson – an actor that brings people to the theatre – then the production company that produced this movie will re-coup their money rather quickly. So yes, this may definitely be a blockbuster film.
Does it get the “MWK – This movie was AWESOME!” stamp of approval? No, it does not.
I’m sorry Mr. Neeson, I love you like a brother, but I think you could’ve done better. Actually, I’m sorry, you couldn’t have done better. As a matter of fact, you were the best part of this movie. Your acting was fantastic, like usual.
You know what could’ve been better? The story.
I just went to IMDb.com (Internet Movie Database) and found out that Joe Carnahan was the director. He also helped in writing the screenplay. Now, far be it from me to criticize an artist’s view, but hey, this is my job. I must tell you, the viewing public, what I, Matty W. Kelley, thought of this film. I hope I don’t hurt Mr. Carnahan’s feelings, this is just my opinion. But most of the time my opinion is right. HA!
The movie goes like this: A bunch of oil drillers are leaving the frozen tundra of northern Alaska to head back to civilization when their plane goes down in the frigid Alaskan wilderness. Almost all passengers on the jet are killed, except eight men. Now they have to survive the elements until they are rescued or they must trek their way out of the snowy wasteland until someone finds them.
Oh yeah, there’s also a gang of wolves teaming up to fight them. Yes, just like “the Greasers” vs. “the Socs” in “The Outsiders.”
This is what I didn’t like about the film. First, I had NO IDEA what these guys were doing in Alaska in the first place. I had to read online that they were oil drillers. I must not have been able to pick that up. I honestly thought they may have been ex-prisoners exiled to that barren wasteland (maybe that was my fault, I was eating a pretzel and I got mustard all over my sweatshirt, so, that one’s on me).
Two, Liam Neeson’s character wanted to kill himself in the beginning of the movie. Why? Over a girl. Ok, she must’ve been a great girl, but why? They never even give you a back story about the girl! Wife? Girlfriend? Mother of his child? I don’t know. Maybe I missed that somewhere in translation too.
Number three. This one really gets me. Since when did wolves become the smartest living creatures on this planet? Seriously! They wanted you to believe they were talking to each other, setting up shop, and figuring out the humans next move! I just couldn’t wrap my head around this one. The way I took the story is, I can’t believe we, as humans, are still at the top of the food chain on this here earth. I think they wanted us to think that wolves are going to take over the world!
Four, I didn’t like how it ended. Ever see the movie “The Edge” starring Anthony Hopkins? Think that, but not as good.
And five. I like to figure out how the title plays into the movie. “The Grey.” I think it may have to do with the animals being grey wolves (although, a lot of them were black). Or maybe it had to do with the landscape being somewhat grey. Or possibly, it had to do with some of the men’s faith, being either black, white, or grey. All I know is I also saw another a movie this weekend called “Man on a Ledge.” And do you know what that movie was about? A MAN ON A LEDGE!!! Now that’s easy! Great movie too. I may review it later tonight if I’m not too tired.
Before I close my rant, I would like to say a couple great things about this movie. It was beautifully shot. The landscapes were gorgeous, and I truly thought Liam Neeson did a great job with what he had in this film. He is a terrific actor and if he played wallpaper in a movie, I’d watch him because he’s that good. He kept me in my seat.
I didn’t like this movie, but I’m not going to bury it either. It was ok. Go see it, you just may like it.
I’m off to howl at the moon.
Matty W. Kelley
Fun Fact: Michael Biehn was considered for the role Liam Neeson ended up portraying. Michael Biehn played Kyle Reese in the original “Terminator” (1984).
Fun Matty Fact: There have been many “wolf” movies made over the years. My favorite by far is “Teen Wolf,” starring Michael J. Fox. Me and my brother Andy saw it at the Norwood Cinema in 1985 about fifteen times! Those were the good old days.