The Gray Man

UK Release Date. 15 July 2022
Certification. 15
Running Time. 2 hours 2 mins
Director. Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
Cast. Julia Butters, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling, Jessica Henwick, Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton.
Rating. 56%

Review.

The Gray Man was yet another Netflix attempt to establish the first instalment in a successful action franchise, much in the same way as The Old Guard or Red Notice. The streaming platform reportedly paid the Russo Brothers an eye-watering $200 million to write and direct this superficial, and ultimately inconsequential action thriller.

Based on the novel series by Mark Greaney, The Gray Man builds itself using the spare parts from successful action franchises - Sam Mendes' James Bond, Paul Greengrass' Jason Bourne, Christopher McQuarrie's Ethan Hunt and Chad Stahelski's John Wick. Despite superficial flourishes, the film fails to create a character or action sequence as memorable as any of the aforementioned films.

Everything looks slick, yet empty and vacuous. Complicated fight sequences feel hastily pieced together and lack the visceral impact of say, The Bourne Supremacy or The Raid, or the balletic style of John Wick's gun-fu. The Russo Brothers deploy air too many random, frenetic, swooping drone shots. Where Michael Bay's Ambulance uses drones to elevate a high-octane chase sequence, the Russo Brothers simply use the technology for the stomach-churning, establishing shot.

An impressive cast is completely wasted in a film with negligible storyline or cogent dialogue to work with. Ryan Gosling could play the role of the Court Gentry [no wonder he prefers to go by the name of Sierra Six] in his sleep. Self-effacing and amiable, Gosling's protagonist surprisingly lacks personality. Ana de Armas and Jessica Henwick are completely wasted in criminally underwritten roles. As for Chris Evans' portrayal of Lloyd Hansen, an off-the-books CIA mercenary, the less said the better.

A plea to Netflix and Roth Films. No sequel is required.