It’s official: Liam Neeson has cemented himself as the world’s favorite new action star. Ever since his ultra-macho turn in Taken, people just love to see this guy kick ass. So when I heard of a film about Liam Neeson fighting wolves in the wild, my first thought was: “Well, that’s ridiculous” -- and my second thought was: “But I’ve got to see it!”
Thankfully, The Grey is more than just that. At its core, it’s a survival story. When a plane carrying a group of oil drillers crashes and leaves only seven alive, they must find a way to survive in the Alaskan wilderness amidst freezing weather and a bloodthirsty pack of wolves. This is absolutely not a movie for the faint of heart. It’s a somber film that’ll put your nerves into overdrive, keeping you constantly on edge; scenes of contemplative quiet quickly revert back to turbulence, and then back again.
The plane crash in the beginning of the film is one of the most intensely overwhelming scenes I’ve seen in a damn long time. True terror personified. When it finally ended and we were treated to a moment of silence, there was a scattering of “whoa’s” heard around the theater. It’s that kind of movie, one that’ll have you verbally reacting to what you’re feeling. 
And then there’s the wolves. When we’re first introduced to a pair of glowing white eyes in the darkness of night – which then turns into a LOT of glowing white eyes – we feel the danger just as sharply as the men do. As the human numbers slowly start to diminish, the already potent tension increases, constantly keeping us in the story even when nothing is going on but a bunch of guys marching through the snow.
Liam Neeson gives a riveting, tormented performance as Ottway, the “Alpha” of the group. And bonus! He gets to say things like “I’m gonna beat the shit out of you in the next five seconds and you’ll swallow blood!” Seriously? Only he could pull off saying such a thing.
While the cinematography is a visual treat (just thinking about that snowy vast whiteness makes me feel cold!), it is actually the sound editing and mixing that makes The Grey stand out. With ear-shattering sound effects (once again, the plane crash!), I can’t remember the last time I felt so present during a film. Director Joe Carnahan exhibits a thoroughly impressive ability to create a distinct and memorable atmosphere and tone. We’ve seen movies that take place in similar settings before, but Carnahan gives the entire film its own edge, with music that bends and molds itself into its grim setting.
There are a surprising amount of laughs – some intentional through cheeky dialogue, and some that’ll inevitably stem from the constant presence of the wolves. It can’t help but feel just a bit too campy at times – something I have no reason to believe the filmmakers were going for. Regardless, by the end of the film I was pretty firm on my belief that there is no sound more frightening (and simultaneously humorous) than the howl of a wolf.
Rating: B
Some people think that if a movie makes them cry, then it automatically makes it a good movie. They don’t think of it in such black and white terms--it’s something that happens subconsciously. They sit through the film, they cry their eyes out, and then once the film is over and they’re emotionally drained, all they’re able to focus on afterwards is what a wonderfully emotional experience they just went through. If I were to judge ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’ by such a shallow, vapid rubric, then it would be a phenomenal film. Unfortunately, it’s the kind of film that is overflowing with emotional manipulation to such an extent that I felt extreme resentment towards the filmmakers, and anyone remotely involved for that matter, for using such a heavy subject for easy tears.
‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’ tells the story of Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), an eleven-year old whose father (Tom Hanks) died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. A year after what he calls “the worst day”, Oskar finds a mysterious key in his father’s room, and sets out on a journey to find the lock the key opens. Based off Jonathan Safran Foer’s acclaimed novel by the same name, it’s evident right from the get-go that this story is one that translates much better on paper than it does on screen. Oskar is certainly an interesting character and worthy narrator (though I’m sure his mannerisms will drive some people crazy), but his trips all around New York City are mostly uneventful and are often accompanied by voice-overs to constantly bring us into Oskar’s psyche, making everything feel all the more forced. Thomas Horn, with his velvety-smooth voice, plays the precocious, oddball Oskar with delicacy and heart, making him the best part of the film. In fact, all of the performances in the film are applaudable, including Sandra Bullock as Oskar’s grieving mother and Max von Sydow as the mute who becomes Oskar’s companion on his quest.
But despite the cast giving it their all, it doesn’t change the fact that ‘Extremely Loud’ is a film that does nothing but upset. Why, why, would anyone want to see people jumping out of the Twin Towers? Why would anyone want to hear Oskar replay the messages his father left while trapped in the second tower, the messages that Oskar ignored? I found myself pressing my fingers against my ears to block out the noise of Tom Hanks’ panicked voice. No, it’s not because the film is effective; it’s because it’s simply something that I have no reason to want to experience. It has been over a decade since the September 11th attacks, yet the question of “is it too soon?” is undeniably still a relevant one. To make matters worse, the end is so syrupy sweet and artificially hopeful that not only did it make any genuinely touching moment that came before it ring false, but it made me angry that the filmmakers tried to shove a beam of light down my throat after one of the most morose movie-going experiences in recent memory.
Rating: C-
Every year has its share of good movies, but when looking back on 2011, I found myself feeling very – mehhh – about the year that just came to an end. Maybe it’s just that 2010 was such a spectacular year, but while 2011 left me with a handful of movies I loved, very few stuck out as movies I’ll remember 10 years from now. Maybe 2012 is here to make up for the lackluster year, because not only is it filled with promising Oscar-worthies, but a ton of huge blockbusters that actually look like quality stuff. So here it is, my list of my top 10 most anticipated movie of 2012:
10. Django Unchained - Leonardo DiCaprio. Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Christoph Waltz. Samuel L. Jackson. Sacha Baron Cohen. All starring together in the same Quentin Tarantino film. While I love Tarantino, I can’t say that I’m the biggest fan of western movies (with the exception of a few, of course)…but with this much talent behind a film, I don’t know how to not be pumped for what is sure to be a badass movie!
9. American Reunion - American Pie will always hold the title as one of the favorite sex comedies, and while I enjoyed American Pie 2 and American Wedding, I did find that they, like most sequels, decreased in quality. But American Reunion seems to have waited long enough since the release of ‘Wedding’ that it has the potential to reboot this franchise and be as funny as the original. Plus who doesn’t want to be reunited with Stifler, Jim, and Jim’s dad?
8. The Woman in Black - I’m always down for a good horror movie, but in the past couple years it seems that movies with actual scares have mostly been replaced with torture porn and extreme gore…and I’m not into it. So when I first saw the trailer for The Woman in Black, Daniel Radcliffe’s first movie since the end of the Harry Potter films, I was hooked. Watch the trailer and tell me you don’t get goosebumps!
7. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – I admit it, I’m a Twihard. While I’m not a big fan of the final Twilight book (it’s silly beyond words), I cant help but be excited to see the second half of the immensely enjoyable Breaking Dawn – Part 1. AND we get to see Bella as a vampire! 
6. The Avengers – I don’t know much about comic books, but I do know that Thor, Captain America and Iron Man were all crazy awesome movies…so add them all together into the same movie, and you have what is sure to be one of the biggest movies of 2012.
5. Snow White and the Huntsman – There are two live action Snow White movies coming out this year, which is absolutely ridiculous. Especially since I find Snow White to be one of the least interesting Disney films. But with a dark new spin on the classic children’s tale, and what looks like an electrifying performance from the perfectly-cast Charlize Theron as the evil queen, Snow White and the Huntsman looks like it could be one of the best films of the year.
4. The Great Gatsby- Baz Luhrmann, the wonderfully over-the-top director of Moulin Rouge and the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet, takes on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. Throw in Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and 3D (what?!), and one thing’s for certain: The Great Gatsby will be an absolute visual treat. 
3. Les Miserables- As a huge fan of the musical, I can’t express my excitement over seeing this Broadway show hit the big screen. With some incredibly powerful songs (I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own) and a cast of big-name actors more than capable of singing them (Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried), if done right, Les Miserables can be a truly fantastic, magical experience. 
2. The Dark Knight Rises – I’m not going to lie, I’ve been amongst the people that don’t see how Christopher Nolan’s third and final Batman film can possibly top The Dark Knight. How can the next villain even compare to the Joker? And to take it further: how can anyone top the late Heath Ledgers iconic performance? But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Nolan is a visionary who not only knows what he’s doing, but refuses to make a film unless it can top the one that preceded it. So say it with me: In Nolan we trust.
1. The Hunger Games- First off: if you haven’t read The Hunger Games trilogy yet…GO DO IT NOW! This film adaptation of the first book in the series it set for ‘Twilight’ status fame – the main difference between the two though? Anyone who has watched the Hunger Games trailer can attest to the fact that not only does it pack an emotional punch, but has the production value to actually make a quality movie. Not to mention an Academy Award nominee as heroine Katniss. (Take that Kristen Stewart!)
Honorable mentions:
Taken 2, Lincoln, Prometheus, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Gravity, The Five-Year Engagement, The Cabin in the Woods, World War Z, 21 Jump Street, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Amazing Spider-Man, Wanderlust
Thoughts? Movies i'm missing? I want to know what movies you guys are most looking forward to!