The Grey
Posted: February 4, 2012 Filed under: Film, Film Reviews, Journalism, Uncategorized | Tags: Alaska, Cineworld, Film, Grey, Liam Neeson, Twilight, Wolves 4 Comments »
When my brother said The Grey was a ‘must see’ film, I trusted him.
I’ve become somewhat envious of little JP and his Cineworld unlimited card! He’s spent the last 3 months watching every film that’s come out (and by ‘every’, I mean ‘every‘. He even sat through Twilight. But we won’t talk about that sordid event.)
It seems like yesterday that my parents were discussing whether a 15 rated (or even 12 rated) film was suitable for little Josh to watch. In reality it was well over a decade ago.
Anyway, now that I’ve suitably embarrassed little brother to my hundreds (I wish!) of readers, the point is; I wasn’t sure what to expect tonight. To be honest, I didn’t really think about it. I merely assumed the film wouldn’t be too “full on”.
I certainly didn’t expect to witness seven men being torn apart by wolves. Ok, ok so they didn’t all get eaten. One man fell out of a tree…and then got eaten by wolves. Another man went to go and make some yellow snow…and then got eaten by wolves. Another man…ok you get the picture.
The storyline is simple. A plane crashes in the middle of what Alaska. Only a handful of people survive, and most of those end up being attacked and killed by…you guessed it. Wolves!
The film verged on horror – a genre I absolutely detest. I’m not ashamed to say I actually looked away for two of the adverts that were shown before the film even started! I am simply not built to sit there and be “entertained” by having the hell scared out of/into me.
The Grey is not for the faint of heart. It doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat, it makes you lean back, as far away from the action as your seat will allow! It makes you jump numerous times. My heart was given more of a workout watching the film than the bike ride home (in -5 temperatures I hasten to add).
Which brings me to my next point…the setting of this film is bleak. You’ll be pleased to know one man doesn’t get eaten by wolves. No, he freezes to death.
To summarise: The film is about death, people being ripped to shreds, and more death.
And I loved it.
The Grey is magnificent.
It would be easy to read my above words and come away thinking this is some kind of Alaskan Final Destination 54 (or whatever number they are up to now). But nothing could be further from the truth.
We’re barely 20 minutes into the film, and death number one is upon us. Yet enough character development appears to have taken place to make the scene where a man’s life ebbs away, genuinely emotional. It’s a powerful piece of cinema, full of maturity and reality.
The Grey doesn’t shy away from discussing the important things in life. God, the afterlife and both the beauty and cruelty of this world are discussed, and the latter demonstrated, in some detail.
If anyone comes out as describing this film as “anti-Christian”, let me know so I can give them a good kicking! Sure, the lead character doesn’t use the nicest language to describe the God he doesn’t believe in, (isn’t it strange how atheists pray?) but at least God got a mention!
These days us Christians tend to be left with a) mindless, senseless, emotionless tripe which is about as interested in the deeper things in life as I am in Twilight. b) A dreadful “Christian film” where everyone lives happily ever after because they believe in Jesus. I think I despise b) more than a).
The writers of The Grey have done a superb job in raising some of the most profound and important questions human beings face. The Grey offers no answers. It merely presents life in all its grittyness, adds in a couple of opinions and leaves us to mull over possible answers.
Sometimes it can be difficult to connect with the characters on screen. I have nothing in common with the characters in The Grey, other than I’m a man and I want to survive! I know it’s ridiculous – the film is total fiction – yet I had the deepest respect for each of the characters. There’s no glitz and glam. Just real men, struggling on and fighting for a vital yet doomed cause. Liam Neeson’s character is particularly convincing. I’ve never seen him act so well.
It’s been a long time since I saw a film as down to earth, gritty and real as this. Suicide, panic, hallucinations, being eaten alive. It doesn’t sound like the best film, does it? But for those of us who are fed up with “Harry met Sally, they fell in love had 2.5 kids and lived happily ever after”, will see this film for what it truly is. A breath of fresh air. It’s strange how men being hunted by a pack of wolves can make you appreciate the best things in life. No word I type will be able to fully explain that. So I guess it’s best if you just go watch the film…
Great review. Neeson is out-standing here and gives probably one of his best performances that we have seen from him in a very long time. The rest of the film also works because there’s not only this certain paranoia going on but even when the “action” comes, it’s tense, brutal, and surprising. Best film of the year so far even though that’s definitely not saying much.
I definitely think The Grey is all about faith and spirituality. I had a film teacher who said “you’ll never see a movie called ‘The Village of the Happy People.’” There’s no conflict in that. So what better way to explore faith and spirituality than with a man who’s questioning the existence of God, who wants to believe in something more, but who can’t bring himself to as a result of the hardships of his life? And haven’t we all been there? You certainly won’t get much conflict or dialogue in a story about a happy, content believer. Is The Grey a grim movie? Certainly. But when we’re the most lost, that’s when we most need our stories. There’s no journey, and no story, about the search for light unless you start in a place of darkness.
And even though we’re denied part of the ending, there’s a lot more going on with Ottway than is textualized. He starts the film on the brink of suicide, and it’s the visceral experience of the crash that seems to shake him up and make him decide to fight for a life he’d previously forsaken. Yet through all of this, considering where he ends up at the end of the film and his survival skills, you have to ask yourself if his subconscious has still been working on a certain level of self-sabotage. I think in those final moments he realizes this, and that in deciding to fight for his life, come what may, he’s made his peace with his own mortality in a way he only thought he had previously. There’s also a beautiful irony how after begging the heavens to save him, he finally decides “I’ll do it myself, then.” We’ve already witnessed one character give up the will to live. But Ottway, unbeknownst to himself, has had his prayers answered. His will to live has been revived. And whether or not he physically survives, it’s his commitment to himself and his determination to not give up that’s key. He’s finally resolved that he will find his peace and be reunited with those he loves, and until then he’s going to continue to unflinchingly face down whatever comes his way.
SUCH good points Brian, thanks so much for stopping by and sharing. I wholeheartedly agree.
Hey Sam, while I was writing a recent review, I remembered you being a “holy man” and yet a little disappointed in a lot of those awful Christian-themed films. Was curious if you’d seen Take Shelter, as I think it would really appeal to you. My review is linked here (http://briantoohey.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/top-ten-of-2011-8-take-shelter-jeff-nichols-2011/) if you’re curious, but I’m more interested in simply passing along a recommendation for the film, which I think you would enjoy, than in getting you to read the review (and honestly, it’s probably best to see it knowing as little as possible). But I’d love to hear what you think if you’ve seen it or if you decide to check it out!