IR Film Review: THE GRAY MAN [Netflix]
The intensity of "The Gray Man" is not to be underdone. It is a bombastic tour de force technically but, like some of Michael Bay's best as well, devoid at many points of substance. In a film like this, the key is to play to the anti-hero and keep moving. But even with something to fight for and a lack of any romance at all, there is an emptiness to it. Ryan Gosling as Six is jacked and cool as ever. He always has a grace but the reality is here that it is simply a means to an end. K in "Blade Runner 2049" had much more to live for and an inquisitive mind that got eventually pissed off. Six is pure instinct which serves him well. The movie does follow an old school 90s formula in a way and the closest representation actually to it might be "Bad Boys II" (again Michael Bay). Ana De Armas plays an agent caught up in the op that goes sideways of course but all that charm from "No Time To Die" seems lost because the story need to get to the next location.
But this lack of connection is interesting because both Gosling and Evans have worked with De Armas before. But here there just doesn't seem a connection or even ribbing. It is by-the-book throttle for the set pieces. Even Billy Bob Thornton is sort of disconnected. They are all good at what they do of course and looks like they are all having a bit of fun (Evans especially as the rambunctious bad guy). Even the secondary casting with Jessica Henwick from "The Matrix: Resurrections" and Rege Jean-Page from "Bridgerton" is awesome. They all play their characters to a T but there is not much depth beyond human ambition and survival and general narcissism (save for the plot focus on a sick girl seemingly at the center for minute reasons of fate). As the set pieces become more and more insane, "The Gray Man" becomes more of a playground. As long as the viewer accepts it as that (a romp), it is vey enjoyable but by the end lacks most practicality and plot connections.
With the amount of locations and bedlam (specifically a Prague sequence which is pretty insane but also pretty politically incorrect in many ways) "The Gray Man" seems to know what it is and just got with it. It brings to mind "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." that Warner made a couple years ago but more jacked up. "Man" had style too and too adept actors. Again here Evans, working again with the Russo Brothers from "Avengers: Endgame", is very much playing against type which he seems to love and the sequence where things come to a head on the edge of dawn is worth it. This kind of movie is definitely The Russos' forte and it would be interesting to see how much of the original book plot was kept and maintained. But this movie is also the antithesis of "Cherry" which they made last year with Tom Holland. Literally, it is completely opposite but that likely is the point. "The Gray Man" is fun, loud and full of itself with some cool sequences and a feeling of bubble gum throughout which isn't bad...there is just not a lot underneath. And that's alright. B
By Tim Wassberg
