Liam Neeson fights off wolves, snow and cheesy dialogue.
Much can be said about Liam Neeson’s career path post-prestige pictures, but one accusation that cannot be levied is that his decisions are boring. Since his award-winning turn in “Kinsey,” Neeson has popped up in action flick after action flick, including “Batman Begins,” “Taken,”
“Unknown,” “Clash of the Titans,” and “The A-Team.” For a lesser actor, these might be construed as ‘safe’ choices — but for Neeson they’re downright bold. So it’s no surprise that his new film, “The Grey,” is elevated from middling schlock to fun, wolf-punching mayhem with the help of Neeson’s late-blooming gravitas.
The story is simple and director Joe Carnahan spends little time on setup. Ottway (Neeson) is a hired gun of sorts at a remote oil refinery in Alaska. After an intensely shot plane crash, he and his not-so-merry band of survivors must brave the unforgiving elements and an extremely pesky pack of large, hungry wolves to survive.
The story works because Carnahan knows the real star is the setting. The film was shot in British Columbia and cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi captures the desolate landscape beautifully. You can feel how dangerous the terrain is because you’re never quite sure where the wolves are hiding.
Unfortunately, Neeson’s fellow survivors rarely live up to these grand stakes. The film is surprisingly dialogue-heavy for a story filled with such vacuous characterizations. I rarely believed the campfire philosophy spouted in the film’s quieter moments, but at least a fire usually meant a wolf attack wasn’t far behind.
Neeson is an action vet at this point and we are the better for it. The dialogue is B-movie heaven but his gravelly Irish-accent infuses it with just enough subtext to make us sympathize. It’s not hyperbole to say Neeson’s presence alone carries “The Grey.”
That’s why, someday, I hope to run into Liam Neeson, and if I do I’ll ask him to recommend a restaurant. Even if it’s the worst thing imaginable, I know I will be utterly convinced that this restaurant is God’s humble creation after five minutes. Thanks in advance Liam.
“The Grey” opens today in several Seattle-area theaters.
Top 5 Most Anticipated Films of 2012
5) “The Dark Knight Rises“ | I’m not really sure I even have to explain myself here. Nolan, Bale, Hardy, Oldman, Gordon-Levitt, Heinz Field being blown up (Go Seahawks), Hathaway — and the list goes on. The only way this movie stinks is if it suffers from “Spiderman 3” syndrome, and my hunch is Nolan is far too savvy a filmmaker to let that happen.
4) “Django Unchained“ | Quentin Tarantino’s follow-up to “Inglourious Basterds (2009)” about an escaped slave-turned-bounty hunter (Jamie Foxx) set for revenge on an evil plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) is almost guaranteed to turn some heads come next holiday season. Sprinkle in Mr. Tarantino’s pitch-perfect period dialogue and wonderful knack for working with actors and I have no doubt his audience will be riveted.
3) “The Master” | Paul Thomas Anderson has not released a film since “There Will Be Blood (2007)” so suffice it to say film geeks everywhere (including me) are primed for his new release. The film follows a man who returns from war and starts his own ‘faith-based’ organization. Many have said the film is aimed as a takedown of Scientology. Whatever the case, I will definitely drink this milkshake. I’ll drink it up!
2) “Looper“ | Rian Johnson is my favorite young filmmaker working today. His first two films, “Brick (2005)” and “The Brothers Bloom (2008),” displayed an incredible awareness of style, dialogue and characterization. I won’t even try to explain the time-travel, mobster-murder plot but just know that Johnson’s style mixed with Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt will definitely be a compelling ride.
1) “Prometheus“ | I have been anticipating Ridley Scott’s return to space since “Alien.” So when I saw the teaser trailer for his upcoming “Prometheus,” I justifiably let out an audible squeal. The plot is said to be a prequel of sorts to the “Alien” films. Add-in first class screenwriters (Damon Lindeloff and Jon Spaihts), a compelling cast (Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender) and Scott’s always world-class visuals and I am counting down the days to Friday, June 8.
