Nope, not that Gray Davis bio-movie we've all been hoping for, but the now annual February release of a Liam Neeson movie. Seriously, last year it was " Unknown", and the year before it was the far better "Taken". They actually believe in this stuff you know - that's its good luck and big bucks if a guy does well in a movie, release the same basic story with the same guy, same time the next year.
And Neeson is liked - I see him as an "Abe Lincoln" type (maybe that explains the February release time?). He's big, strong, silent, but troubled. The guy you want on your side, but don't get too close, he's got issues.
Here he plays John Ottway, a petroleum company worker in "way out there" desolate Alaska. Yep - he's a loner again, keeping his distance from his co-workers, a motley outlaw band of guys dressed like lumberjacks who wile away their off hours drinking and fighting. In the opening voice over from John, we learn they are mostly ex-cons and other cast offs who come for the high pay.
But isn't the movie about hungry wolves? Yes, but be patient. There's almost an artistic bent to the way this movie was filmed, with many quiet moments to reflect on the scenery and John's lonely life, which we soon learn is haunted by a woman presented in flashbacks.
Soon it's time for one team of guys to fly back to civilization for a break, and that's when the terror begins. The plane goes down and I must say what a job they did presenting it in one horrific and realistic fashion. There's this back and forth between pure quiet and ear splitting crash sounds that puts this a cut above - I felt like I was going down too.
From there it's the seven survivors against the elements, and yes, "the grey". It's a nice diverse group - 2 Latinos, a black man and 4 white guys, and each has his own distinct personality which will help you remember them. That way you may care a bit more that they make it through this.
John becomes the de facto leader, mainly because he seems to know the most about surviving and wolf behavior. He's not without challengers though, a point I respect because there's always somebody not willing to give over control when their life is on the line. The writing is surprisingly terrific as this ragged band of guys go back and forth joking and arguing the way guys like this do - it felt unscripted. It's also a twist for Liam's character John, in that he's not a loner anymore and is forced to care about people again in an effort to get them all out alive.
As for the wolves - well, there is action there, mostly "amped" up by loud music and sound effects. Let's face it - they can kill you, but it's not like facing a massive bear. A few times it's clear it's a mechanical contraption they are grappling with, but what are you going to do? It passes for terrifying, even when it's clear its a game of one by one they go down.
What in the end stands out is the passion and humanity in the characters presented in this movie - it took me more than halfway through to realize Dermot Mulroney was playing one of the plane crash survivors. These guys are so bearded and so heavily clothed - who knew? Liam is his usual strong and silent tough guy self - I give "The Grey" a "7".





