Anthony and Joe Russo continue to branch out of their Marvel success with their new action thriller film The Gray Man on Netflix. Based on the novel series by Mark Greaney, the movie boasts of an all-star cast led by Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans as they go head to head on the screen. With their production house AGBO, the Russo Brothers continue to produce and direct very different projects that have showcased their talents outside of superhero movies. Their latest directorial venture comes off more like a mainstream action film, which is a return to form with the Russo Brothers tackling another big-budget project like their Marvel films. With an action film on the streaming platform, the directing duo puts on all the stops to create a thrill ride with huge spectacles of action sequences. It is a first for the directors to be working with Gosling who has been known for his dramatic roles and this is the actor’s first action vehicle since Blade Runner 2047.
In The Gray Man, the film follows a man known as Sierra Six (Gosling), who is recruited by CIA operative Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton) to become a CIA black ops mercenary in order to shave off his prison sentence. Jumping to the present day, we find our hero already a seasoned operative out on a mission to kill off a target overseas. Things go sideways when he questions his boss (Rege-Jean Page) after refusing to have a child killed as collateral damage. Once he finds out from his target that he has secrets about the program he’s recruited for that can bring it all down, Six ends up on the run as he attempts to survive countless assassins on his tail led by a psychopathic agent known as Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans).
As a concept, The Gray Man has everything you would want in a spy movie. You got a thumb drive, a kidnapping, and government bosses being villains. We also have action scenes that check off the list for a movie of this caliber with helicopter rides, jumping off rooftops, big shootouts, and hand-to-hand combat during the final act. We also get the international locales that are shown throughout the film, making this a massive film on a global scale as we are reminded of where in the world these characters are at. The Russo Brothers are clearly making this the type of action movie that filmgoers are familiar with, especially with a lot of influence from previous action films in history. It is very formulaic, yet the tensions run high and the stylized look makes this a fun popcorn flick.
What sets it apart from other action films is the incredible cinematography and the way certain scenes are shot. For example, the opening sequence with Gosling’s character taking down a bunch of baddies quietly is well done, showcasing the style that the film is going for. There is tons of brightness in color in these action set pieces, making them pop on screen and vibrant. Even the drone shots of some of the fights make it quite dramatic and keep up with the film’s pacing.
Perhaps the biggest draw in this film is the stars that are on screen delivering some action and the back-and-forth banter between our leading men. Gosling plays the suave action hero who goes to great lengths to keep himself alive in order to expose this conspiracy within the government that he has found himself in. Evans goes out of his way to play a conniving psychopath out on a killing spree to take down Gosling’s character. Evans gets to play a villain that is very much reminiscent of the Bond movies and does a great job embodying this antagonist with his sleek wardrobe and style. Both these guys do overshadow some of our other cast members who deliver a few key action sequences that often feels overcrowded. Ana de Almas isn’t given much to do after that flashy opening sequence, but we do see the funny chemistry she shares with Gosling. Even Page and Jessica Henwick often feel wasted as the bureaucrats behind the scenes of this whole operation.
With an action film like this, expect a trail of violence that follows with each destination along the way. There are huge shootouts that take place in the streets of these European cities. We see buildings get blown up, car chases wrecking traffic, and high body counts in public places. Sometimes it could be a bit much, especially in the times like these. At the very least, they don’t sugarcoat it as these exotic locations can sometimes end up as a battleground. The Gray Man doesn’t hold back on the brutality that is on display and it shows the dangers of being on the field. The film basically shows that in the world of espionage, danger lurks in every corner, and it’s not always your standard doomsday weapons that cause them.
However, the film can come across as a bit unintelligent for its own good. The story is easy to follow but the dialogue can come off as somewhat silly when it comes to delivery. For such a serious film, it often gets sprinkled in with some comedic moments that land but not most of the time. It’s something audiences may have seen before, maybe even done better. Once the action stops, the film can often feel stale and it gets difficult to root for our hero when we can’t get an emotional connection from him other than what he has with the teenage niece of his mentor whom he protects. It could be the fault of the screenplay as it’s an adaptation of a book series that works well on the page but not on screen when it comes to the story.
In the end, The Gray Man is a great escape from the dangers of the spy game filled with action, explosions, and gunfire. It’s perhaps one of the most fun you’ll have from a film made by Netflix. It is also a great effort by the Russo Brothers to use what they’ve learned in prior films to deliver an action-packed spy thriller. There are tons to love about the film, but it also borrows heavily from other movies of this genre so it doesn’t particularly hold an identity of its own. It also seems to be building off into a franchise as it leaves some threads open for future installments. However, it also doesn’t hurt having Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans take shots at one another in a cat-and-mouse game.
The Gray Man is out in select theaters before it streams on Netflix on July 22, 2022.
