Susan Granger’s review of “The Gray Man” (Netflix)
What’s the fuss about? And why is this gun-riddled action-thriller set for a spinoff and a sequel?
If you’re aware of current events, mass shootings in public places are simply terrifying. So when Ryan Gosling, a former CIA assassin handcuffed to a bench in Prague’s Old Town, is spotted by Chris Evans, the psychopathic CIA agent sent to ‘eliminate’ him, there’s a total bloodbath.
Since active shooter emergencies are all too prevalent these days, perhaps it’s time to stop glorifying them as escapist entertainment.
Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling) is a convicted killer who is recruited by Donald Fitzroy (Bill Bob Thornton), who offers to commute his prison sentence in exchange for his agreement to go into training as the CIA hitman known as Sierra Six.
“You’ll exist in the gray,” Fitzroy says.
“Does that mean ‘disposable’?” Six asks.
Yup.
After 18 years, he’s assigned a ‘new’ handler, Director of Operations Denny Carmichael (Rege-Jean Page from “Bridgerton”), who orders Six to kill a fellow agent known as Sierra Four. Predictably, problems arise as Six is then pursued by amoral agent-gone-rogue, Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans).
Operating out of a French castle, set on 19,000 acres, mustachioed, mercenary Hanson is holding Fitzroy’s kidnapped niece, Claire (Julia Butters).
Yet, the most memorable brawl is between Agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas from “No Time To Die”) and Tamil cinema star Dhanush.
Costing a whopping $200 million and based on Mark Greeaney’s first novel in the best-selling spy series, it’s adapted by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Joe Russo, who directs with his brother Anthony Russo (“Avengers: Endgame”). But, somehow, the concept of character-development was jettisoned while globe-trotting to Berlin, London, Mumbai, Vienna, and Bangkok.
FYI: Chris Evans was originally considered for the lead role but he preferred to play the villain. And every character in the film wears a Tag Heuer watch since Ryan Gosling is the brand spokesman.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Gray Man” is a frenetic, forgettable 4 streaming on Netflix.
