Liam Neeson, The Grey
After I watched The Grey a week ago, I kept asking myself: what if I found myself stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with a bunch of roughnecks for company, ravaged by the cold, hunger and exhaustion, and chased by a pack of wolves — would I have the will to survive? At what point would I break and succumb to despair? Of course, no one knows for sure what’s going to happen until it actually happens. But I’ve got a sneaky suspicion I wouldn’t last long.
The plot of the movie is straight as an arrow: a severe storm leads to a plane crash, which leads to a group of survivors being isolated in the wilderness infested with wolves, which leads to the predators attacking the group and culling its members one by one, which finally leads to survival of the fittest (or most spirited) of the group. Simplicity of the plot, however, doesn’t take away from the story, which is told with great detail and mastery. In the centre of this character-driven tale is John Ottway (Liam Neeson), whose personal drama unfolds, as we follow the survivors in their man-vs-wild ordeal.
The Grey poses yet another question: what moves Ottway? At the beginning, he is determined to take his own life, because, as we infer from his flashbacks, he’s lost his beloved wife and is haunted by the memories of her. It doesn’t seem like he’s got a life to come back to. Yet, he puts his rifle down, when he hears wolf howls and recalls his father’s poem, which becomes a leitmotif of the movie:
Once more into the fray
Into the last good fight I’ll ever know
Live or die on this day
Live or die on this day
Ottway’s determination and physical strength sees him through the ordeal and even the final battle with the alpha wolf. The final scene — after the credits — suggests he’s survived. From online sources, I understand the battle between Ottway and the wolf was actually filmed, but, for whatever reason, it didn’t make into the final version of the movie.
In a nutshell, if I were the Academy, I’d give Liam Neeson “the best actor” for this role. The movie is definitely worth watching, that is if you are not scared of a big grey wolf.
The Grey Black Wolf
And here is where the “wild” part of the story kicks in. Not only are the wolves in the movie portrayed as ferocious predators (which they certainly are), they are also heavily CGI-ed, and, as far as I am concerned, they don’t look like real wolves, rather, in some scenes, they look like nightmarish prehistoric dire wolves. (Truth be told, I’ve never seen wolves in the wild, so I might be wrong on that account.) They are also set on chasing and killing the prey that fights back and is not an easy kill, while they have an abundance of corpses left after the plane crash. We are also led to believe they might be doing it out of spite or revenge, and, as an almost afterthought — maybe because they don’t want the humans near their den (no pups in the den though, as far as I can tell). All I am trying to say, the wolves in the movie are not as convincing as Liam Neeson. They would get no Oscar from me.
As far as real wolves are concerned, biologists maintain the animals tend to be shy and avoid humans at all cost. As other top predators, they may still attack people, but in North America there were only two documented fatal wolf attacks on humans.
Finally, with all the bad rap wolves are getting, it’s good to keep in mind that wolves are essential to healthy ecosystems and biodiversity.
Why Restore Wolves in North America?
Related articles
- The Grey Leaves You Thinking About Survival (blazingminds.co.uk)
- Spoiler Alert: On The Grey and The Punching of the Wolves – TIME (entertainment.time.com)
- 25 Questions: ‘The Grey’ (news.moviefone.com)
- The Grey: Wolves Near a Plane (entertainment.time.com)
- Normal Movie Review: The Grey (daysofdocs.com)
- ‘The Grey’ Survival Guide: Do’s And Don’ts In Wilderness Movies (moviesblog.mtv.com)
- The Grey (myhappydance.wordpress.com)
- Liam Neeson’s ‘The Grey’ is a mostly satisfying action film (csmonitor.com)
- Liam Neeson fights rogue wolves in ‘The Grey’ (abclocal.go.com)
- From Screenplay To Screen: The Grey
- ‘The Grey’ Director Talks Characters, Locations And Protesters
Good post Natalie –
Of course I agree, wolves get a bad rap and they are very much needed for healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. Part of the problem here is the governments don’t always agree.
Howdy, Cowboy! I don’t know about the States, but at least in Canada they make efforts to preserve wolves, and other wildlife. Thanks for commenting!
Natalie –
I think Canada may be a bit more concerned about the loss of the wolves that what it is here in the U.S.
In many ways, the U.S. could learn some things from Canada !
I just saw the movie over the weekend. I must say that with this movie (and just like majority of the movies he’s into) Liam Neeson should get an Oscar like you said.
I’d like to thank you for clarifying the ending of the movie. Actually, I thought he didn’t make it — considering the alpha wolf’s stats.
Hi Sony, have you seen the movie where Liam plays a mortician with Christina Ricci? His character in that one is SO creepy… I can’t decide if I liked him in that psycho role — he was too believable
Thanks for your comment!
Not yet but that sounds interesting so I might as well dig from the “underground” later to find that movie.
Honestly, I got to like him only when I watched TAKEN — one of my favorites so far. I was so moved by his character really. Being a parent myself must have a lot to do with that. I doubt liking him if the case were that I’m not in the same position — as a parent. Still, Mr. Neeson is an incredible actor.
Actually I haven’t seen Taken. I guess now I must see it. thanks for your comments!
Not yet but that sounds interesting so I might as well dig from the “underground” later to find that movie.
Honestly, I got to like him only when I watched TAKEN — one of my favorites so far. I was so moved by his character really. Being a parent myself must have a lot to do with that. I doubt liking him though if the case were that I’m not in the same position — as a parent. Still, Mr. Neeson is an incredible actor.
I’m assuming ‘the Grey’ is basically ‘Taken’ but with wolves and no Famke Janssen.
I think you’ve got to love Liam Neeson. He’s always been wronged in some way and yet always leaps once more into the fray. What a man. Good post.
Hey Edward, I haven’t seen Taken, but now will certainly watch it. Yes, Liam Neeson is an incredible actor, he creates such powerful presence in The Grey that other characters seem like just mere shadows. Although that might be due to the fact that they are “underwritten” in the movie script.
Thanks for your comment!
ya,good movie
i was wondreing this too 
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Thanks for reminding me about this movie. Love Liam Neeson……..He is one of my fav! All the best………….