‘THE GRAY MAN’: THE RUSSO BROTHERS MAKE BLOCKBUSTER NETFLIX ACTION FLICK

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Anytime Netflix promotes one of their upcoming films to be “the” film, I’m both curious and skeptical. Such is true of The Gray Man, their big action picture of the year.

The Gray Man (2022) Netflix Review

Recruited nearly twenty years ago after a murder rap and time in prison, Six (Ryan Gosling) is an expert in his field. He’s a deep cover operative in the CIA where getting rid of bad dudes with dangerous information is just another Thursday for him. However, his latest job causes him to question everything. When his target, whom he bests, tells him that their bosses aren’t exactly on the up and up, he hands Six information to challenge this.

This sends Six leaving behind his routine ex-fil from the country, and instead he decides to investigate. Finding out the information he was handed has secrets about the higher ups in the CIA, he sets out to find truth. When someone he cares about is threatened, it ends up Six has more than just every single CIA hit squad on his trail.

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‘THE GRAY MAN’: THE RUSSO BROTHERS MAKE BLOCKBUSTER NETFLIX ACTION FLICK #THEGRAYMAN #CHRISEVANS #RYANGOSLING #MOVIES #NETLIXMOVIES Share on X

Though I didn’t watch trailer promotion for this film, I still recognized it as being one of Netflix’s most anticipated. With its cast and the promise of a slick, shiny action film, there was no doubt it would be a must-see film. Helmed by former Avengers filmmaking duo, Anthony and Joe Russo, the film has some production similarities. However, I also saw someone on Instagram say it reminded them of John Wick, which I haven’t seen. The basic premise kind of reminds me of the Bourne films, though I think overall, this film is easy to follow from start to finish. By this I don’t mean it was hard, story wise to follow the Bourne films, rather some of the action sequences were a challenge.

Here there is PLENTY of action content but mostly I think we can keep up and follow the explosions. There is an impressive cast list bringing this all to life, too. This not only includes titular character Gosling, but also Chris Evans (in a creepy role!); Ana de Armas (who you’ll perhaps recognize from Knives Out); Billy Bob Thornton; Rege-Jean Page (and yes, everyone but me is probably dying over him because of his prior Netflix fame); and Julia Butters, who I was excited to see given her prior role in American Housewife. Everyone is good, and while I LOATHE some of the characters, that’s right where I should be. There’s a moral line between Six, and almost everyone else, and that’s a distinction I like seeing.

If you like action films, this one is good. It’s a little rough around the edges to open, but the film goes upwards from there. It’s one of those blockbuster, or hopes to be, films that looks like it could have been on the big screen. But either way, it’s a solid action film in the stylings of the modern action flick. Just make sure you snag a side of buttery popcorn to go with it!

You can find The Gray Man exclusively streaming on Netflix.

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Content: there is some profanity, but mainly it’s the sustained action/violence throughout. There’s weapons (knives, guns, rockets) in numerous scenes. The bad guy uses unorthodox methods to accomplish his goals (battery cable torture, outright killing someone, fingernails, threats). There’s gunfire in multiple scenes and fight scenes where, both people in an effort to live strangle their attacker. There’s intense shoot out scenes in broad daylight.

Photos: Netflix