Mike’s Review: ‘The Grey’ Is A Ferocious Film

GRADE: B++

Joe Carnahan has crafted a fine film that should not be considered a typical January release by any means. In fact, Carnahan recently told press that the only reason The Grey released on January 27th is because they were delayed in post-production by some effects shots. The studio has already agreed to re-release it in late 2012 for an Oscars push. While I think it will be a huge stretch for The Grey to earn Academy Award recognition beyond the great performance by Liam Neeson, that’s quite inspiring and should evoke confidence in potential audiences. Otherwise, the movie is quite a ride and really does keep you on the edge of your seat, unlike 99% of movies that use that pull quote from corrupt journalists.

The trailers are pretty inaccurate, as they project a mindless “I’m gonna fuck up some wolves” movie. Now, while a few wolves do get what’s coming to them, it’s way beyond a mindless film. It’s also nothing like most of Carnahan’s chaotic previous work (although I love Smokin’ Aces). Instead, The Grey explores the idea of pack leadership. There is the actual wolfpack and the predictability of their nature. But the film uses the wolves to accent the way the human characters evolve throughout the film. Like most movies, this one goes through a traditional genre-specific story arc. Survivors huddle and search for a way out. A leader emerges, but some don’t think he is fit to lead. People start dying. The leader stays strong and the doubters convert. But the path isn’t quite as direct as most films and it zig-zags through the tradition of survival films leaving it more unpredictable.

Unpredictability is really what makes The Grey work so well. There are quite a few jump scares in the film that keep you on the edge of your seat. And I can usually predict those moments coming, so I don’t scream like a little girl, but I legitimately jumped out of my seat at least twice. If the movie had delved into an endless barrage of scare tactics, it would have likely failed. Instead, they just keep your heart rate up throughout movie that is already so intense that you’ll likely burn a few calories just watching it.

It’s hard to imagine it without Liam Neeson as the lead – originally Bradley Cooper was cast as the lead, but dropped out. It’s nothing new for Neeson, but his schtick is not tired yet. What’s truly amazing is that he’s almost 60 years old and still completely believable as an ass-kicking, no-bullshit-taking scruffy nerfherder. He fills out the character in a way that makes his personal issues come to life and the raspy, grungy take on the leader-type is a pleasant escape from the typical movie character. There’s a kind of intensity to Neeson that oozes from him even when he isn’t grunting or yelling at people. You can get behind a guy like this. And that’s crucial considering the other characters in the film are ex-convicts and tough-as-nails assholes who need to at some point get behind Neeson – literally and figuratively.

While this is Neeson’s film in many ways, it’s clear that Joe Carnahan had a vision and executed it wonderfully. If you are unaware, he actually brought the crew into the wilderness to film it authentically, with sub-zero temperatures and real elements impacting production. You can tell. The same way that Into the Wild felt real by the tactics Sean Penn used to film it, The Grey works in that realm as well. But it’s not your typical Carnahan film. It’s like a more hardcore version of The Edge or Alive (referenced in the film). It’s more like something we’d see from Neil Marshall (The Descent) than Joe Carnahan. One can only hope that he made The A-Team to get a studio to let him make a movie like this.

If Neeson is the star and Carnahan is the mad genius, the wolves are the icing on the cake. Few animals have been depicting quite as menacingly as the wolves in The Grey. It’s a more realized version of the wolf in 300, fitted with glowing eyes and a rabid snarl. Moreover, their aggressiveness is bound to the idea that they are only acting out of instinct as opposed to some poorly-written premise like rabies or some crap. These guys just crash landed in wolf territory and there’s no getting around it – they are fucked. It feels good to know that when you watch a movie – there’s no nuclear weapon to disarm with 3 seconds left or riddle to solve in order to catch the killer. The wolves are always there, somehow, somewhere, they are lurking in the shadows and the tension is heightened for it. More importantly, these mere mortal men have no way to really defend themselves, no matter how many clever weapon creations Neeson can come up with. And that concept runs through the entire film. It gives the environment and the wolves more than just teeth and drool. As does the idea that they are emotionally reminiscent of the group of plane crash survivors.

There are moments in The Grey in which the characters get philosophical. It’s a relatively quiet movie, but it has a lot to say. There are scenes dedicated to religion, survival instincts, leadership, family and love. Each one seems essential. I still want to see them get mauled by wolves, but I feel like the time in between wasn’t wasted on pointless crap. Most movies spend far too much time trying to flesh out characters only to kill them later. Instead, they need to focus on giving the characters something to say. Something universal. Something lasting. Because I don’t need to remember who this man was when he dies. Once he is dead, he’s out. That’s what I love about this movie. They don’t really know each other well enough to cry for hours over the latest dead body. They aren’t necessarily full-fledged characters, but rather ideas embodied by actions and short speeches. The only character we need to truly “know” is Neeson’s and we get plenty of that.

On top of everything, the ending makes it all worth it. It makes the trailer worth it and the whole journey worth it. While I’m sure many audience members will be disappointed, it left me with the same bittersweet sensation that Inception gave me. You want to see more, but you know it’s better in your head. If you absolutely have to know more, though, stay through the end credits. But I warn you, it kind of puts a damper on the gut-punch ending.

When you look at the movie times in January and February, it is hard to find motivation to hit the theater. As the Oscar bait late 2011 releases wind down, utter crap comes in. You may enjoy a movie or two, but they don’t stick with you. They are filler movies. The Grey is not. When it re-releases in late 2012, you’ll remember it fondly and you’ll recall the flurry of emotions it evoked from you during the coldest months of the year.

What Should You Do? See this movie or Liam Neeson and a pack of wolves will rip you to shreds.