The story is simple as it gets: A plane carrying a crew of oil workers crashes on route back home leaving eight survivors stranded in the middle of snow-filled nowhere fighting against the cold – surrounded by scary, merciless wolves. Ottoway, played by Liam Neeson, is an Irishmen fighting to find his own lost soul, who was hired by the oil company as a wolf-sharpshooter; this gives him an insight into the wolves mind, allowing him to lead the band miners – to survival.
Although bleak, The Grey is superbly crafted with a script that is amazing. We are constantly hit with scenes that are both intense and possess great invention. The scene that early on in the movie where Ottoway is comforting a dying survivor just after the crash is extremely effective. In a later scene Ottoway cries out to the almighty for help, for a sign, when hope seems to be a luxury he does not have – it is surprisingly beautiful.
Throughout the movie, the script is unpredictable and takes sharp turns with unexpected effects; its familiar premise makes way to something bold and original – not at all predictable. Yes, the survivors aren’t all going to get along with each other all the time; yes, some of them – maybe all of them – are going to die. Beyond those basic trends everything goes.
The Wolves (yes there’s a lot of them) have been rendered finely. The degree of the composition of a wolf is magnificent and has a perfect effect (unlike in certain movies where they are pale sparkly skinned dudes). They are rabid and terrifying but possess a degree of dignity and grace.
Whether in the distance, running in packs, or the extreme close-ups (with the awesomely designed sound effects for the growling), these wolves are the real deal – the real opponents.
In my personal opinion the movie has every potential to be one of those small timely classics.
It is original, brutal, and essential.
It never indulges in the stereotypical wilderness survival movie we may expect.
The Grey takes its own firm stand in that front – with freakishly terrifying wolves.
Review by Nishan Casseem
The Grey (2011)
Action | Adventure | Drama
After their plane crashes in Alaska, six oil workers are led by a skilled huntsman to survival, but a pack of merciless wolves haunts their every step.
Director:Joe Carnahan
Writers: Joe Carnahan (screenplay), Ian Mackenzie Jeffers(screenplay)
Stars: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney and Frank Grillo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRWF4cepn8U
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