The Grey. Ottway (Liam Neeson) works near/at the arctic circle, an oil facility. This obviously isn’t the ideal location to spend your life so the job attracts those attempting to escape life (from flashbacks we can assume that Ottway’s wife has passed away) or needing a new start (due to criminal records). The only way to occasionally re-acquaint yourself with normality is to take a flight down to Anchorage, Alaska. On this one occasion with Ottway and his other co-workers, the plane crashes. Ottway and six other surviving individuals must attempt to find civilization while being hunted by wolves.
I have to say this movie didn’t excite me. Yes, I understand it is more philosophical versus action packed, but I think by the middle of the movie you’ve pretty much determined what the ending will be. Also, the philosophy is rather pedestrian.
And I couldn’t help but have immediate issues with the movie. Did they really need to leave the ruins of the aircraft and seek the protection of the forest? Maybe Ottway had a point about leading the group to the trees, but it soon looked like a mistake when the wolves started to pick away at the group anyways. One argument for leaving the crash site was because they needed to find civilization on their own, because the rescue units would never be able to find them. Black box, anyone? I thought the black box gave out signals. The other argument was that the open terrain gave no protection against the wolves and yet later the group of men find their backs against a “natural wall” and the argument is made that at least the wolves can only attack from one direction. Well, if you set up yourselves defensively within part of the damaged plane, wouldn’t you have the same protection?
I will say one thing, you half suspect that this movie closely reflects how Liam Neeson personally dealt with the death of his own wife, which makes it feel like you are invading his privacy. This also makes it a reason not to see this movie.
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