REVIEW: THE GRAY MAN

3.5/5

Six Shades Of Gray.

129 Mins. Starring: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Regé-Jean Page, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Dhanush, Alfre Woodard & Billy Bob Thornton. Directors: Anthony & Joe Russo. 

The Russo brothers are going 'Gray'. The directing siblings who have been Marvel maestros with avengance ever since they showed Captain America the spy games of 'The Winter Soldier' with Robert Redford, recently extracted Thor for a Netflix movie. And now they're making Captain America bad with a "trash 'tache", matched up with the "Ken doll" and a meta 'Barbie' movie joke in 'The Gray Man'. Also on the streaming service as Chris Evans goes up against Hemsworth's 'Spiderhead'. All at the same year his Disney Pixar 'Lightyear' is hoping to go to infinity and beyond buzz past the other Chris' 'Love and Thunder' and all that Mickey Marvel money. Meanwhile, Anthony and Joe Russo's action-thriller adaptation of the Mark Greaney series of books of the same name is something they want to turn into a Bourne again franchise for the action spying genre. A novel idea for Netflix's most expensive movie yet as the streaming service is losing more subscribers than magazines in this digital age. Despite monster shows like volumes of 'Stranger Things' and Season 2 of 'Squid Game' being given the green light. On 'Red Notice', speaking of the 'Project Power' (see star Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg as vampire hunters (SOLD!) next month) of action franchise starters like Chris Hemsworth's Russo produced 'Extraction', 'The Old Guard' of Charlize Theron was originally meant to star in this movie before all its development hell. As was Brad Pitt who's about to hitch a Shinkansen in Japan for his own Summer action smash, 'Bullet Train'. But instead we get Hollywood hearthrobs Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans (I'm sure many people are complaining) for the first leading man poster boy promotion face-off since Gosling and Bradley Cooper went to 'The Place Beyond The Pines', once upon a time in Hollywood. 

'Fifty Shades Of Grey' this is not. All action and guns blazing. No go on Bond like gadgets in this mission impossible that might be confused with something from Christian's closet. Praise the Lord. But you will see that Netflix bring out all their players (from 'Blonde' to 'Bridgerton') and all the tricks of their trade in bullets and bruises from punch-ups that light the Wick of classic choreography in this first chapter by the book. The plodding plot is literally written on a thumb drive and all that usual spy Intel yawn yarn. But the amazing action more than makes up for it in all the grey areas. In the literal fighting between the fireworks of a Bangkok opening, with a familiar henchmen face (Callvan Mulvey) from 'The Winter Soldier' and 'Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice' heavy fame. All before this massive movie trades postcards with The Rock, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot's places of 'Red Notice'. London. Prague. Vienna. Delaware...just checking you're still with us in this heavy-handed, blow-for-blow movie. A Canadian Ryan not named Reynolds leads this picture and Gosling plays it like the McQueen of an old-school, no nonsense, Hollywood hard-man with a bruised soul. Owning it from his red suit and matching water pistol first squeeze of the trigger. Adding a franchise to his 'La La Land', 'Blade Runner 2049', 'First Man' and 'Drive' greatest hits. But it's Chris Evans who has all the best lines like his British TV personality namesake. And from 'Barbie' to 'Babe', that'll do. We'll save the rest of the bacon. GQ killing it in slick backed hair and polo's he turns into muscle shirts for this weight room rep for rep contest. The anti star-spangled Steve Rogers. Critics say this is Evans going against type. They obviously haven't seen this Human Torch (a John he'd be willing to 'Multiverse' revisit, oh Captain, my Captain) storming through comic fare like 'Scott Pilgrim' and 'The Losers' with a "crossbow bitches," calling everyone a douche. Or his ice cold hitman alongside Michael Shannon's 'Iceman'. And let's not even begin to unravel all that cable-knit from those 'Knives Out' with Ana de Armas. 

Throwing up her hands like she did in 'No Time To Die', clinking glasses with Daniel Craig's Bond...James Bond for one last dance as she shook and stirred, stealing the show. Armas arms up with Netflix again for her best work since her first magnified mystery with Craig, as she also reunites with Evans again. All before she's set to go 'Blonde' with the streaming service as Marilyn Monroe in Hollywoodland black and white. Better get those Oscars polished. This is going to create a subway grate storm. But we'd like to see more of her here. And the same goes for 'Game Of Thrones', 'Star Wars', 'Iron Fist' and 'The Matrix: Resurrections' star Jessica Henwick. Both showing they could front their own spin-off franchises as major players to come in the sequels. Bond favourite and 'Bridgerton' swooner Regé-Jean Page also smoulders in short screen time. A real screen presence beyond the fainting some may exhibit like flicking Thor too hard. It's clear to see Regé is a multi-picture born star in his own making. Add an almost unrecognisable 'Narcos' and 'Elysium' standout Wagner Moura, chameleonic as always. Actor, producer, director, lyricist and playback singer Dhanush, killing it as a Lone Wolf. And the 'Hill Street Blues' of legend Alfre Woodard, who appeared in the M.C.U. in 'Luke Cage' and 'Captain America: Civil War', as two separate characters and you really have something. But even with a legend like Billy Bob Thornton, giving this movie that is anything but "boring" more authenticity, whilst making fun of Evans' strong hand. And character actor familiar faces like Shea Whigham showing up. It's Billy Bob's on-screen niece Julia Butters that really gives this film something to fight for. Already a star after schooling Leonardo DiCaprio and Tarantino once upon a time in you know where. Is this the best acting you've ever seen? At least it is here in all the flexing between trail derailments and cargo planes being brought down like Tom Cruise in 'The Mummy'. Which seems to be the wrapped up new Netflix and action movie cliché. See also Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart on last months Netflix comedy remake slash franchise starter 'The Man From Toronto'. But when the man from London, Ontario causes big smoke on board with a flare gun that's when you know you want to signal a sequel out 'The Shining' like maze of a formidable finale. We hope it finds its way and doesn't get lost in the grey. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Extraction', 'The Old Guard', 'Captain America-The Winter Soldier'.