The Grey

They may have nothing in common except for the lead actor, but to me, The Grey is the third in the Liam Neeson kicks everyone’s ass series. The first two, Taken and Unknown are a bit more urban. The Grey takes on the wild. When an oil drilling team’s plane crashes, Neeson’s character leads a handful of survivors on a trek to escape the pack of wolves stalking them. Now you may be thinking: how many people could wolves possibly kill? The answer is a lot. The story keeps an attention to realism, which explains why the wolves are attacking. Neeson’s character is built as knowledgeable enough to describe such things to the others, as well as the audience.

While it’s expected that “no name” actors would accompany Neeson on screen, The Grey actually has some known support. Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo and Dallas Roberts all appear in the film, even though it is difficult to identify them with their thick winter gear on. So while Neeson does carry the load for most of the movie, the others do well to give the lead a few scenes off here and there. But since the story unfolds like a slasher movie, I must say that everyone doesn’t make it home safe and sound.

While engaging, the sheer length of the film hurts the drama a bit. There is a span in the middle which has a number of consecutive scenes facing wolf ambushes. Even if that is an integral plot point, the script needs to show a bit of restraint.

At some point over the last decade Liam Neeson has become one of the biggest action stars in the world. But what sets him apart is his ability to show humanity between beatings. The Grey showcases this especially, as the flashback scenes with the character’s deceased wife surely hit close to home with Neeson’s own tragedy. It’s tough to watch. But the guy is likeable, tough and a great actor. In the words of Regis Philbin, “Liiiam Neeeeeson”. That should be read in a bad Irish/Scottish/ Australian accent.

Each film earns either zero, a half or a full arrow in five categories. The categories are Acting, Writing/Directing, Emotion, Innovation and Overall Impression. The arrows are added up to equal the full score.