What Is the Story About?
Netflix’s big budget action thriller ‘The Gray Man’ is a cat and mouse chase between the CIA and one of their own – Agent Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling). CIA higher up Denny Carmichael (Regé-Jean Page) wants Sierra Six dead, coz he is in possession of incriminating evidence of the CIA’s dirty deeds. He calls in sociopathic gun-for-hire Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans) to ‘locate and destroy’ Sierra Six. Hansen proceeds to unleash mayhem, with no let-up in the destruction till the very end.
The Gray Man is directed by the Russo Brothers, Joe and Anthony; and written by the duo, alongside Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
Performances?
It’s evident from the film that Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans have poured their heart and soul into their roles in The Gray Man. Both are excellent, charismatic, and quite an eyeful. Chris Evans is especially effective as the sociopath Lloyd Hansen. Those who know him only from his squeaky clean Captain America portrayals are in for a shock. Ana De Armas is superb as Dani Miranda, ally to Sierra Six. She lends heft to her role.
Dhanush exudes mystique and power in his short but impactful appearance as Lone Wolf, assassin-for-hire with a strong moral compass. Billy Bob Thornton, as Donald Fitzroy, steals the scenes he features in, with his quiet charisma and sharp presence. Regé-Jean Page takes his Bridgerton sophistication a notch higher with the dashes of evil in it. Jessica Henwick, as Carmichael’s colleague Suzanne, Julia Butters as Fitzroy’s niece Claire, Alfre Woodard as Margaret Cahill are well cast. Wagner Moura is unrecognisable as the shady Laszlo Sosa, but fun to watch, nevertheless.
Analysis
The Gray Man is the kind of film that begs considerable suspension of disbelief on the part of viewers before one can delve further into the narrative. It is also a film that begs undivided attention of the viewer with the breakneck speed of the plot, the relentless action with no let-up whatsoever, the hectic happenings, the insane pace—and the pièce de résistance—the breathless flitting of the plot across the globe. The action, one moment, is in Bangkok; the very next set of sequences take place in Baku, Azerbaijan; and then the story zips to Chang Mai, Monaco, Turkey, London, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, before culminating in Croatia. Honestly, for a second, even the most attentive of audiences will forget where the particular sequence they’re watching is taking place.
The action sequences are superbly choreographed and well shot. Watch out for the fantastic action set piece that takes place in Prague – it is long, luscious and so coolly awesome that it will have action junkies swooning and salivating. But the action is all there is to the film. The rest of it is a predictable and hackneyed plot, laden with tried and tested tropes from every action and spy thriller there is.
The humour in the film, along with the one-liners, is the best part of The Gray Man, apart from the action sequences, of course. The witty repartee comes fast and thick, delivered—dry and droll—by the two leading men. Coupled with their inherent charm, it has a potent effect on the overall storytelling.
To come back to the suspension of disbelief part of the film, The Gray Man brims with gazillion hard-to-believe moments. Starting with the action set piece where Six is handcuffed to a bench, surrounded by spraying bullets and exploding bombs—but well, not a scratch on our man. Six is definitely blessed with nine lives in the film, the way he escapes unscathed from situations that would spell certain death for lesser mortals. Harder to believe is how easily the supposed gray man, essentially a ghost, is found with such easy regularity by all and sundry —Tamil assassin, shady hustler, his own ally Dani, everyone. Sheesh!
All said and done, The Gray Man Is a one-time watch, with several interesting action set pieces. You can literally see where the Russo Brothers have blown the $200 million budget of the film. But it is also a film that is bound to recede into the annals of oblivion – faster than the breakneck pace of the film.
Music and Other Departments?
Henry Jackman’s music for The Gray Man sets the right beats for the action and thrill in the film. Stephen F. Windon’s camerawork is excellent, and captures the action magnificently. Certain scenes did need more light to be more effective though. The production design of The Gray Man is top-notch, as are the stunts and action choreography. The casting of the film is the real star, however. It is precise, inspired and perfect.
Highlights?
A couple of action set pieces
The casting and the performances
Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling
Drawbacks?
It’s all action and little else
Lacks soul
Too pacy for its own good
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, as a one-time watch
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
The Gray Man Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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