Star Cast:
Ryan Gosling (as Six), Chris Evans (Lloyed Hansen), Ana de Armas (Dani Miranda), Jessica Henwick (Suzanne Brewer), Regé-Jean Page (Carmichael), Dhanush (Avik San), Julia Butters (Claire), Billy Bob Thornton (Fitzroy).
Director:
Joe Russo & Anthony Russo (The Russo Brothers)
Available on:
Netflix
Run-Time:
2 hours and 9 minutes
The Gray Man Movie Review
I, for one, had high hopes. The manner in which Netflix promoted “The Gray Man”. Considering the star-studded all-popular cast. I guess when one sets high expectations, the disappointment can be greater. Netflix bet big on everything else when all they needed was a compelling storyline.
I’m not even kidding when I say there are hundreds of movies with the same plotline; about a member of the Secret Service going rogue. There’s a hunt, killings, chase sequences, escape after escape, and finally the good guy wins.
The Gray Man does not overlook the emotional aspect. After all, such films require motivation for the rogue assassin to come for the kill of the entire organization.
Bonus, you get the background story in form of flashbacks as to why the ‘Six’ becomes a part of the organization in the first place.
Story and Star Performances
Ryan Gosling plays the Gray Man, an assassin known by the code name ” Sierra Six “. He functioned for the CIA as an undercover, unnamed, undetectable, and ruthless agent.
The Gray Man is based on the successful novel of the same name published in 2009, and it is directed by the successful director duo, the Russo brothers, who have directed box-office hits for Marvel.
Aside from Gosling, the film features big names like Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Regé-Jean Page, and the Indian actor Dhanush.
The directors portrays Ryan Gosling as the film’s good guy from the vey start, a kind-hearted assassin who backs down from killing a target because of a child nearby in the introductory scene itself. The same scenes also demonstrate that all the CIA is concerned with is the target and ready for any kind of collateral damage, even the ones that can be avoided. That’s all. That’s your good guy/bad guy plot right there.
‘Six’ learns they’re eradicating the Gray Man project, killing the assassins recruits of the project ‘The Gray Man’ one by one. He could perhaps be the next. So it’s either him or the people who want him gone now.
The film has its fair share of flashbacks, lacking emotional conviction but pivotal to the story of the movie.
Chris Evans as Lloyd Hansen, who knows no rules and boundaries, is tasked with the mission of bringing the Six down. What follows is wreckage all over Europe’s streets. The film has a large budget, and the creators did not shy away from expensive rather long action and chase sequences involving copter, train, and vehicles of all sorts.
Ana de Armas decides to lend her support to ‘Six’ in his fight against the system. She looks fabulous and gangsta as she engages in action scenes with blowing up cars and buildings.
The recruited assassins in secret services in the movie are never likely to avoid any emotional contact with other humans. Gosling has to rescue Claire, the niece of his mentor and recruiter, Fitzroy. The human connection began two years ago when the famed hitman was tasked with protecting the young girl. They needed to add a human touch to the life of Gray Man. What if he is a ruthless hitman, he has a heart, right.
Julia Butters as the plucky little girl Claire has rather done a good job of eliciting human emotion in this brutal murderous rampage of a movie.
Dhanush makes a sparkling appearance in the later part of the second half of the film. However, he has a very limited appearance. I feel like they threw him into the story to capture the attention of the Tamil or Indian Netflix audience at large. Many people will be disheartened by Dhanush’s limited screen presence after all for all he has got, he does an excellent job.
The movie wants you to laugh at dialogues like, “No one throws a loaded gun”, and “Get out of my personal space.” Wow, seriously. In short, the wits are non-existence.
Last Words and Should You Watch it?
If this is Netflix’s attempt to create their own Mission Impossible or a James Bondesque franchise, I hope they have learned that fancy and big only works if the story and screenplay deliver the conviction that today’s filmy generation desires.
All said, I would still be very much excited if Netflix gives greenlight to a sequel to “The Gray Man”. The star cast is perfect, the directors can deliver big, its just the story that needs to a be a lot lot better than this one.
Watch “The Gray Man” for its cast’s charm and high-octane action.
The Gray Man Movie Rating:
2/5 *