Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: The Grey (2012)

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-19-2012, 11:12 PM:

I really liked this one a lot. It's a typical lost-in-the-wilderness story (plane crash, guys stranded in wilderness and threatened by wolves) and it's a bit high on the "yeeeeah, right" moments (in below-freezing temps, he falls in a raging river, then gets out and DOESN'T freeze to death? Yeeeeah, right).

But, the acting, the presentation of it all, the framing story and surprise ending of said story, and the sound mix overcome all those problems. This is a very gripping, white-knuckle thriller. I've seen so many movies that I don't usually "jump" in the right spots but this one really got me on the edge of my seat.

We have had a couple of complaints about the language, but I thought it was very true to the characters. The men in the movie are all oil field workers and I know for a fact that's the way a lot of those guys talk. In fact if anything the movie toned it down a bit.

The sound mix was tremendous. The plane crash segment, in particular, was inventive and well-done -- the whole thing is shown from inside the plane, which I think is a first for this type of scene.

The cinematography was beautiful and horrific at the same time. The wolf scenes -- done with real wolves -- are excellent. Ridley Scott proves again that he hasn't lost his touch at making a thriller.

4 out of 5 stars from me. My wife liked it as well as I did, in fact she may have liked it even more.

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 02-19-2012, 11:39 PM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
Ridley Scott proves again that he hasn't lost his touch at making a thriller.

"The Grey" was directed by Joe Carnahan.

The trailer was misleading and it left me disappointed with the film. I was expecting more of an action film when what we really have is a drama. There are action sequences, of course. If I had been expecting a drama going in, I think I would have enjoyed it more. I have a feeling that this is one of those films I will appreciate more the next time I watch it.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 02-19-2012, 11:59 PM:

you do know that there's a very brief shot/scene after the credits -

Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle

that makes the abrupt ending seem a tad bit more conclusive. The way the movie ends which is incidently seen in the trailers is both nail biting and/or can be equally annoying to others - one patron at the screening I was at voiced his displeasure pretty loudly

[ 02-20-2012, 02:41 AM: Message edited by: Adam Martin ]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-20-2012, 10:38 PM:

quote: Anslem Rayburn
"The Grey" was directed by Joe Carnahan.

I know, but Ridley Scott was a producer. I equated this with Spielberg producing on "Poltergeist." That seemed like a Spielberg movie even though he didn't direct it.

About the ending -- we had a big crowd on Friday and told every single one of them to be sure to stay for the last shot after the credits. I'd bet that at least 90% of them didn't "get it" and were irritated that they'd waited all that time. They don't expect much subtlety from movies these days, I guess.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 02-20-2012, 11:14 PM:

quote: Mike Blakesly
I know, but Ridley Scott was a producer. I equated this with Spielberg producing on "Poltergeist." That seemed like a Spielberg movie even though he didn't direct it.

About the ending -- we had a big crowd on Friday and told every single one of them to be sure to stay for the last shot after the credits. I'd bet that at least 90% of them didn't "get it" and were irritated that they'd waited all that time. They don't expect much subtlety from movies these days, I guess.

[face palm]

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 02-24-2012, 07:17 PM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
I know, but Ridley Scott was a producer. I equated this with Spielberg producing on "Poltergeist." That seemed like a Spielberg movie even though he didn't direct it.

Except Ridley Scott really had nothing to do with the actual shooting of the film. He never even stepped on set according to his interview with Entertainment Weekly. Spielberg co-wrote "Poltergeist" & was all over the set during filming, to the point where some people speculated that he actually directed the majority of the film.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-24-2012, 10:23 PM:

OK then, I stand corrected.

Actually, no I don't. Ridley Scott was still a producer, and I'm sure he still knows his way around a thriller. [Big Grin]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-27-2012, 11:19 AM:

Would anybody care to speculate on the ending? I had a couple of customers ask me what I think happened, and telling me their thoughts. My view is:

Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle
He kills the alpha wolf, causing the rest of the pack to scatter, and he lives.

Some customers have thought:

Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle
He dies in battle with the wolf. I suspect these are people who didn't watch the very end bit.

And still others have thought:

Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle
He kills the wolf, but they both die in the end.

Or is the ending just kind of vague on purpose so each viewer can draw his own conclusion?

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-05-2012, 01:34 AM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
Would anybody care to speculate on the ending?

Hmm, I guess not.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 03-05-2012, 02:37 AM:

I think it could either be your third one or your first but I'm pretty much in the third camp.

Posted by Melanie Loggins (Member # 6454) on 03-05-2012, 10:28 AM:

Showed it this weekend, and holy hell, what an intense movie. Mike, I think I go with option three.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-05-2012, 07:39 PM:

Had a couple more customers posit some theories on the ending. Here are #4 and #5:

Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle
#4. The ending has a hidden meaning, that Ottway (Neeson) is the one who killed all the other workers. I find this one ridiculous.

and

Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle
#5. Ottway was dead all the way through, having committed suicide at the beginning. I don't buy this one either.

Personally I feel that #1 is correct, because

Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle
the movie makes a big deal out of showing the wolf "breathing its last" at the beginning, and then features a corresponding scene at the very end, indicating a similar result; and also, the movie makes a big deal out of showing Neeson strap on the little beacon thing that he salvaged from one of the other guys before he goes into battle. So I think he lives and is rescued.

The fact that people are talking to me about this movie 2 weeks after it left here validates that it was a really good movie even though some people didn't like the vague ending.

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 03-06-2012, 07:02 AM:

Is it just me or does the 2K digital version look like a piece of junk? Especially in the "snowstorm" parts. It's more like looking at a bunch of JPEG artifacts jumping around on screen. Or, maybe, I was just sitting too close to the screen? [Wink]