Showing posts with label The Gray Man. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Gray Man. Show all posts
(Crisp) Movie Review: THE GRAY MAN by FENIL SETA
4:05 PM
The Gray Man, which was released on Netflix today, is a complete action entertainer and delivers what one expects from it – loads of big-scale action! The principal characters are very interesting, especially the antagonist. The madness that erupts in Prague is brilliant. However, the storyline is very clichéd. We have seen similar kinds of plot points in so many films from Mission Impossible to Red Notice. The climax fight begins well but ends on an unimaginative note. The length is also a problem. At 2 hours 9 minutes, the film could have been shorter by 10-15 minutes. Ryan Gosling is entertaining as always and is apt for the part. Chris Evans is outstanding as the ruthless villain with a love for dark humour. He has never attempted something like this and hence, he’s sure to stun viewers. Ana de Armas is okay. She did far better and more action in her cameo in No Time To Die. Dhanush is hardly there for 7-8 minutes but rocks the show. Julia Butters (Claire Fitzroy) is lovely and the makers should have devoted a little more time to her track rather than other sequences. Regé-Jean Page (Denny Carmichael), Alfre Woodard (Margaret Cahill), Billy Bob Thornton (Donald Fitzroy) and Jessica Henwick (Suzanne) are fine. All in all, The Gray Man is a timepass action fare and worth watching once.
My rating - *** out of 5!
We thought it would be exciting to have one of the best Indian actors, Dhanush, join The Gray Man-Russo Brothers
8:10 AM
Despite their expertise in the MCU world, director duo Joe and Anthony Russo discuss how The Gray Man’s set-pieces weren’t easy to pull off
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 22, 2022)
In the run-up to the release of The Gray Man today, the Russo Brothers — Joe and Anthony — have been on a whirlwind promotional tour. Their latest stop — India. The director duo are fairly familiar with the country, having previously shot here. Their Netflix offering has a strong India connect as well, as Dhanush features in it alongside Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas.
For Joe, a visit to the country takes him back to his Avengers days. “We have had a lot of experience with India, starting with promoting Avengers: Infinity War [2018] and Endgame [2019]. We also shot Extraction [2020] here. The Indian film market is as vibrant and exceptional as Hollywood. It is a rival to Hollywood, and has some amazing performers,” he says.
The director is glad that with The Gray Man, he got the opportunity to explore talent from a world far removed from Hollywood. “Not many actors [from India] have performed on an international scale. This movie is so global that characters from all over the world are coming to kill The Gray Man. We thought it would be exciting to have one of the best Indian [actors], Dhanush, join the film. He plays the main assassin who is hunting down Ryan’s character.”
The screen adaptation of Mark Greaney’s novel series of the same name revolves around a CIA spy Sierra Six, who is on the run after he accidentally uncovers the agency’s secrets. One would think a slick spy thriller playing out across different gorgeous locations would be easy to make for the directors who helmed four ambitious MCU films.
So, imagine our surprise when Joe says, “This was an exhausting movie to make. There are a lot of action sequences, [mounted] on a large scale. Also, we like to make changes while shooting. So, the actors would learn certain choreography, and would freak out when we would come up with a new idea on the set.”
For Dhanush, shooting his second international film after The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir (2019) was a novel experience. He says, “We were making this film when COVID-19 was at its peak. So, we had a lot of restrictions, but we worked around them. At the end of the day, filmmaking is the same everywhere. But to evolve as an actor, it’s great to learn, find new territories and new challenges.”
I didn’t see Dhanush make one mistake-Ryan Gosling
8:11 AM
Ryan Gosling discusses how spy thriller 'The Gray Man' marries larger-than-life action with a degree of plausibility
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 19, 2022)
If the picture released last week was any indication, Ryan Gosling makes for the perfect Ken to Barbie. Come to think of it, he was near-perfect as the heartbroken jazz musician in 'La La Land' (2016), too. Or as Neil Armstrong in 'First Man' (2018). But how does he fare as a slick spy? While 'The Gray Man' will drop on Netflix only later this week, it won’t be wrong to assume that Gosling has brought his gravitas, that half-smile-half-smirk, and charm — yes, oodles of it — to the Anthony and Joe Russo-directed venture.
On paper, the Hollywood star may play CIA spy Sierra Six who accidentally uncovers the agency’s secrets and is pursued by international assassins. But Gosling read his character as a guy who “wants to have a normal life.”
“To me, the character was compelling. I found him relatable. He doesn’t want to be a spy. His choices are to be in jail, or to die as a spy. He chooses the latter so that he gets to live a little bit before he dies. Also, he has a great sense of humour,” he says.
'The Gray Man' is an adaptation of Mark Greaney’s novel series of the same name. While it brings together a stellar cast that includes Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Dhanush and Rege-Jean Page, the film also has what you expect from the Russo Brothers — elaborate action set-pieces. Isn’t it difficult to make a full-fledged action film look believable?
“It’s a tricky balance because it is meant to be an escapist film. It’s meant to be entertaining. But at the same time, you have to make it believable enough. We had amazing technical advisors who helped us [make it] as grounded as possible. There were nine set-pieces in all. So, there was an incredible amount of choreography to memorize, and different skills to learn.”
In the film, his character is pitted against Dhanush’s. Gosling jokes that it’s not the starting ground he had in mind. “Dhanush is so likeable. It’s challenging to act like we are enemies. I loved working with him. He is so disciplined and precise; I didn’t see him make one mistake. I hope we get to work again where we are not trying to kill each other.”
We are impressed by discipline and quality that Indian actors bring, be it Priyanka Chopra or Dhanush-Russo Brothers
8:30 AM
Russo Brothers talk about their tryst with India and Indian talent
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 17, 2022)
The Russo Brothers — Anthony and Joe — have spent the last few years conjuring up cinematic universes ranging from Captain America to Avengers: Endgame. Now, they have set their eyes on India. They acknowledge that working with Indian talent has become their primary focus as they seek to weave a web of “desi” stories. In fact, it is proven by their collaboration with actor Dhanush in their upcoming action epic, The Gray Man. However, the duo’s tryst with India started when they came to the country to promote Avengers films in the past, and the experiences left a lasting impression on their minds. Since then, they brought actor Chris Hemsworth to India for shooting a project, and also worked with actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas as well as filmmakers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, collectively known as Raj & DK, on another project.
“India has a strong and fantastic film business, just like the USA. It’s sadly not broken through on an international level consistently. There are so many talented actors, writers and directors. So we have made it a special focus of ours to try and bring some of that talent to the world through our stories, to try to bring India to the world through our stories,”
Joe tells us over a video call. He goes on, “We are impressed by the level of discipline and quality that Indian actors bring to the set, be it Priyanka or Dhanush. They are so prepared. They have worked so much in Indian cinema that they understand where the camera is and the type of performance [that is required from them]. They are very well trained in all different aspects of performance.”
Joe also reveals that, over the years, they have compiled a list of Indian actors with whom they want to work with.
When it comes to The Gray Man, it was supposed to be their second directing project after 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But they were so consumed by the superhero world that the project took a back seat. After wrapping up their Marvel story, they moved on to this new adventure with actors Dhanush, Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. The Netflix action thriller features Evans as a villain, Lloyd Hansen, who sets out to hunt a CIA agent (Gosling).
According to Anthony, the film reflects the truth and anxiety of the present world. “We always try to infuse our movies with the anxieties that we are feeling right now,” says Anthony.
Talking about Dhanush, Joe reveals that the character Avik San “was written especially” for him and that the duo found him during their research. “He is an extremely gifted action actor with a great level of discipline and control over his body. He has two of my favourite fight sequences in the film. We had him in mind from very early on in the script stage. I’d love to keep working with him,” Joe wraps up.
I say this with all humility that nothing can scare me-Dhanush
8:24 AM
Hoping to pave the way for actors after him, Dhanush talks about his Hollywood film, The Gray Man
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; January 2, 2022)
It will take people several lifetimes to achieve what Dhanush has in one. After making waves with his latest performance in Aanand L Rai’s Atrangi Re, the actor-director-singer-writer-producer has set his eyes on his upcoming Hollywood project The Gray Man. He made his international debut with Ken Scott’s French adventure comedy The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir, but the film didn’t garner the expected reaction. Directed by the Russo brothers, The Gray Man is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney, and is Dhanush’s second Hollywood outing. “It is a great opportunity. I hope to capitalise it,” says the actor, who will be playing a small but pivotal part in the Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans-starrer.
Hoping to pave the way for actors who come after him in Hollywood, Dhanush says he wants to “leave a lasting impression”. “So, it is easier for the next lot [of actors] who are coming into films. I shouldn’t disappoint, [that is] the responsibility on my shoulders.”
Not worried about featuring in ensembles like his latest where the actor shared space with Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan, Dhanush says, “I say this with all humility that nothing can scare me. I am okay with any actor outshining me if the film works. Nothing is bigger than the film. I am happy as long as I succeed. I am a secure actor and I know I can save myself any day.”
While everyone thinks the pan-India actor can ace any role, Dhanush confesses that he has a tough time grasping languages. “Although I am sharp, I am not well-versed with Hindi as yet.”
Citing his grasping power in childhood when he was a straight A student with minimum preparation, post joining films he “flunked in grade XII”. “I am not able to pick up any language no matter how hard I try. It is a gift to pick up languages so easily like Prakash Raj sir and Tamannaah [Bhatia]. I envy that gift.”
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