The Grey

I walked into the Grey expecting a typical man versus wild flick, as promised by the promos. Instead, I got a whole lot more. As I'm sure you already know, the film is about a group of people who are on an airplane that crashes. They are then forced to face nature and beast to survive. What the trailers do not highlight is the deeper layers that comprise the Grey. 

In one aspect, you see the men as compared to the wolves. While it is not overly apparent, the men at times perform and engage in the sames acts as the wolves. In particular, there is a scene that clearly parallels the struggle for dominance with-in both the group of men and the pack of wolves. Regardless of disagreements, both groups can put aside differences to work in a cohesive group to attempt to achieve their goals. The wolves understand their hierarchy, and the humans grow to understand theirs.






Another layer presents the question of faith, but wisely, the film does not come out strongly to say any one person is right. The men discuss certain aspects of their lives and who they are. This leads us to have a deeper understanding of why they are fighting to survive, what they're fighting for. Their conversation about faith illustrates each man's expectations and fears. Characters that once seemed polar opposites suddenly have a common belief, common ground. It is enjoyable to see a film treat each character's faith with respect without pandering or declaring one character to be correct at the expense of the others.






Holding those wonderful layers together is the story of the film itself. In its most basic form, these men are trying to survive and face hardships along the way. The visuals are well done, with great effects. Real wolves were often used in the filming, which is much better than CGI in a film like this. Attacks are visceral. The plane crash is scary and shocking. Death can be sudden and jarring. All of these elements serve to create a film that works. The cinematography is great, and I never would have realized that the man who directed The A-Team is the same man that so beautifully handled this movie. Joe Carnahan shows that he can handle a different type of film with this entry into his filmography.






While beautifully shot, with effective close-ups when needed, the Grey does have some jarring transitions. Going from silent to noisy during emotional scenes and from night to day with the time change is often handled quite suddenly. One could argue that it is an intentional choice to keep the audience feeling the disorientation that is often impactng the characters. During the attack scenes and plane crash, the sudden cuts and jumps are effective because they evoke the same panic the characters are feeling. You believe what is happening on screen is real, and it is scary. While a few scenes may feel like jump out scares, they are not cheap. When something comes out of the night suddenly, it is becuase that is a how a real wolf would attack. It's not to get the audience to jump. There is a degree of tension throughout the entire film that the director and actors have crafted without resorting to cheap tricks. That alone is a reason to respect this film.






Any of you who know me at all are familiar with my theater habits. There are certain rules I follow, which you would do well to follow if you choose to see this movie. The best way to descirbe the Grey is bleak. From the colors to the situations, that feeling permeates the film. When the film ends, many of you will be angry. If you follow my rules, you will feel better. If you don't know which rule I am speaking of, feel free to contact me. I'm not going to openly tell you what to do here because if you aren't already doing this, you deserve to walk out depressed. The Grey is a good movie, but it is difficult to watch at times. It feels very long, but I am unable to suggest what they cut to make it shorter. Instead, see the movie and enjoy it. It is interesting but bleak. Don't go see if it you're already sad. That would be a bad scene.



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