WAUKESHA - Ever since "Schindler's List,"
Liam Neeson's career has been an uneven affair. On the one hand, he appears in
serious drama, like "Kinsey," and then on the other he has routinely
appeared as the gritty, vengeful action star of such thrillers as
"Taken" and "Unknown." As a film critic, it's hard to tell
nowadays just what Neeson is going to show up.
What's exciting about the brutal and realistic "The Grey" is that,
while it falls in the latter camp of Neeson projects, this may be his best
B-thriller yet.
Here, Neeson plays a sharpshooter, hired by an oil company to kill wolves in
rural Alaska who threaten to disrupt operations. In essence, he has been hired
to protect the workers who have volunteered for this obscure outpost - men who
he initially deems "unfit for mankind."
There's little cause for joy in this dirty, remote encampment, and Neeson
finds himself on the verge of suicide when his transport plane crashes, leaving
him stranded in the elements with a half-dozen of the company's employees.
What develops from here on out is a blend of juicy pulp jolts and gritty,
naturalistic chills. One could describe "The Grey" as "Neeson vs.
the Wolves" - and there is indeed plenty of steel nerves and battle
strategy here, as Neeson goes toe to toe with vastly superior gray-furred
adversaries - but there's also a psychological element of this "man vs.
wild" setup.
It becomes clear early on that Neeson's seasoned professional knows far more
survival skills than these other oil riggers. So a big part of "The
Grey" is his attempt to teach, train and equip his peers; unlike so many
action films with a solo hero, "The Grey" is a group affair.
Similarly, in emphasizing an early death, director Joe Carnahan ("Narc")
makes it clear that this is not a blood-and-guts affair. Each character matters,
and this life-or-death battle goes beyond vicarious thrills.
As Neeson braves and battles back against the elements, there are some who
may find the push through the snow and pines longer than necessary. But Carnahan
is skilled in making the most of the time, and in using the natural landscape to
serve as increasingly daring tests of courage. Beyond the frigid temperatures
and the voracious animals eyeing the humans from afar, "The Grey"
succeeds most when it's depicting a man's struggle against himself.
More than once I found myself thinking: What could I endure? How dark could I
go to save my life? And it's that harrowing, hypnotic mental journey that
distinguishes this Neeson performance.
Email: snyderreviews@hotmail.com
