The Netflix/AGBO-produced thriller, The Gray Man, is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame), based on the book series of the same title by Mark Greaney from the screenplay by Joe Russo, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
ABOUT – The Gray Man is CIA operative Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling), aka, Sierra Six. Plucked from a federal penitentiary and recruited by his handler, Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton), Gentry was once a highly-skilled, Agency-sanctioned merchant of death. But now the tables have turned and Six is the target, hunted across the globe by his psychopathic adversary Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a former cohort at the CIA, who will stop at nothing to take him out. CIA Agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas) has his back. He’ll need it.
The Gray Man (Sierra Six) is on an assignment and the target gives some encrypted information about their superiors. Six is then in danger, as well as those he trusts/considers close as family, Donald Fitzroy (Thornton) and with his niece Claire (Julia Butters).
The Russos are well known for the action in the films prior to this and in The Gray Man, the fights between Six and Hansen (and hired guns) are spectacular, especially in Prague when the shootout begins as Six is trying to escape via a bus, along with a car chase and later when Six infiltrates the CIA’s fortress to help Fitzroy and Claire.
I’m a fan of Ryan Gosling (First Man, Drive) and am glad to see him on the big screen in this action/spy thriller. I like the backstory of Six’s youth and how he developed the relationship with Fitzroy/Claire. Chris Evans is a joy to watch in the fake looking moustache and white pants that immediately lets the viewer know he is quite the scumbag in this story.
Is this story the most original? Most definitely not -think the Bourne films or similar on the run action, which are good to watch repeatedly if you are a fan of the genre. I don’t doubt there will be sequels.
This cast is enough to pay the price of admission on the big screen in theaters where the film is showing, like here in Austin. It is great to see Ana de Armas (Knives Out, No Time To Die) in the role of the agent who is astute enough to know something is wrong among the CIA leadership and helps Six.
The film also stars Regé-Jean Page, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Wagner Moura and Alfre Woodard.
I recommend viewing The Gray Man on the big screen if it is available in a city near you at least once before you have a repeat viewing of it on Netflix starting July 22, 2022.
Source: Netflix and Cinemark