Liam Neeson, who is enjoying huge popularity after is
surprise hit Taken, heads up this bleak drama slash action film about a group
of oil workers and low downs who crash in the Alaskan snowy wastes with no hope
of salvation. If the cold and starvation aren't enough to deal with they are being
hunted by a pack of very angry wolves and have to fight for their lives against
these impossible odds.
Aside from the motley crew of characters the landscape is
very much a central figure in this tail, the bleak savannas are beautiful but
total encompassing as the blizzard sucks in the solitary bodies. Director Joe
Carnahan uses a number of devices to increase the tension. Powdery snow
instantly starts to cover exposed victims and although at times bloody the
harshness of a scene is dampened by the instant frosting creating a sense that
there are two assailants work at work here; wolves and the cold.
Dermot Mulroney (Zodiac) plays Talget and Dallas Roberts
plays Hendrick but they have very little character development to sink their
teeth into and the only character who stands out other than Neeson himself is
the agitated Frank Grillo as Diaz who hams up the role in a successful attempt
to break up the monotony as the film slowly moves along.
This is largely the problem with The Grey. At times we have
the slow tragic events drawn out and because the characters have not connected
with the viewer it is very difficult to sustain an interest. Yet the wolves
themselves are savage and mystical, keeping you entranced when they appear and
the land demonstrates an awesome nature which is captivating.
62/100
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