#REVIEW: “THE GRAY MAN”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Anthony and Joe Russo, you either know them from your favourite Television Show, or you know them from your favourite Marvel movie (Winter Soldier, Civil War, Endgame, Infinity War). And when they get together and tell you they’re going to deliver an Action Movie with Ana De Armas, Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, the excitement is palpable. However, when that Action Movie can arguably be put into the same category as Ethan Hunt, then it stamps itself arguably as this Summer’s first actual Blockbuster. The Gray Man is an adrenaline-filled masterpiece that begs to be seen in a threatre.

The Movie focuses on Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling) as it flips through timeframes of 2003, 2021 and Present Day as he gets recruited out of prison by Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton) to become a ghost for the CIA who can be used to take out bad guys when a team cannot be placed in time, or cannot tie back to the CIA. However, on his latest mission, his morality doesn’t let him take the shot he needs as a child is present, and resorts to a much more personal kill that leads to him to obtaining some information regarding some dark secrets regarding the CIA, that makes him their number one target.

Denny Carmichael (Rege-Jean Page) is the new Head of the CIA and is determined to erase the program that Fitzroy has created and all who are involved with it at any means necessary. This invokes Denny to enlist the help of a sociopath, Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans) to take out Six and recover the package containing sensitive information which he cannot let leak. The adrenaline-fueled action joyride doesn’t stop there, as Dani (Ana de Armas) is caught between the crosshairs of Six and Lloyd’s madness and finds herself debating what side she should be on, the one that stands behind her career or the side she morally agrees with.

Throughout all the chaos that unfolds throughout the Movie, a few things are made evidently clear. Firstly, after presumably the Mission Impossible franchise is done with the next two installments, please let the Russo’s make a new version of it/a continuation of this story because it is the only thing that can fill that gap. Ryan Gosling knows how to channel the best of all his previous work into one insanely well-crafted performance.  He brings the nuance of his character in Drive; the absolutely madness of his Only God Forgives character; and the detective work in The Nice Guys he brings a life to Sierra Six. We actually need more of this. As well, the against-type performance from nice guy/superhero Chris Evans has us begging  for more villainous roles from him.

To not discuss the action seen throughout the The Gray Man would be a travesty. The pieces are explosive and impressive. There is so much dedication and meticulous detail in the action seen in The Gray Man making it the incredible spectacle the Film truly is. It is hard to deny the brilliance that the Russo Brothers bring here – so much action, so many great performances and just insanity that absolutely should be enjoyed on a big screen (or your TV if you wish) with the largest bag of popcorn. You won’t have a better time on your couch this Summer! I swear!

THE GRAY MAN in select theatres July 15, 2022 and on Netflix July 22, 2022.