MUST SEE MOVIE OF THE MONTH: January 2012 - THE GREY
At the end of each month we'll fill you in on which recently released film we feel most deserves the cost of admission. Also included are two runners up, just in case our top selection doesn't grab your interest or you've already seen it.
"The Grey is chock full of grit, adrenaline and some of the best editing I've seen in years. Amazing cinematography and a daunting score coupled with fantastic performances by Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney and Frank Grillo make this an adventure you won't want to miss. Complete with a brilliantly satisfying ending, The Grey is storytelling at it's finest and a film that easily meets every expectation you could set for a thought provoking actioner." - Pietro Filipponi [Full review HERE]
"Audiences who come into The Grey expecting Liam Neeson to beat up a pack of wolves will likely be disappointed. What’s presented is something sophisticated, having a lot to say both about death and human nature, though starkly uneven. Both topics are massive and maybe tackling just one would have been enough for the two-hour runtime. Carnahan’s ambition in discussing both causes the film to inevitably drag, concluding without making a perfectly concise observation of either. But stylish filmmaking and exhilarating scenes keep The Grey alive and kicking, presenting viewers with a survival tale that’s both exciting and smart." - Giovanni Colantonio [Full review HERE]
In The Grey, Liam Neeson leads an unruly group of oil-rig roughnecks when their plane crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness. Battling mortal injuries and merciless weather, the survivors have only a few days to escape the icy elements and a vicious pack of rogue wolves on the hunt before their time runs out.
The Grey is directed by Joe Carnahan and stars Liam Neeson (Taken, Unknown) Dallas Roberts (A Home At The End Of The World), James Badge Dale (The Pacific, Rubicon), Dermot Mulroney (The Wedding Date, Undertow), Frank Grillo (Edge of Darkness), Nonso Anozie (RockNRolla) and Joe Anderson (The Crazies, Across The Universe).
Cumulative Rating:
Runner Up #1: HAYWIRE
"Stephen Soderbergh’s latest film will certainly please the unusual filmmaker’s fan base, but isn’t likely to win him any new ones. It’s a genre movie, action in this case, complete with all of the auteur’s signatures: non-linear storytelling, intentionally disorienting editing, and sleek stylization. Stopping right around at the 90-minute mark, Haywire is careful not to overstay it’s welcome, which is a wise move. Soderbergh understands the basic functions of the genre, working out a concise cinematic experience. It may feel alien to some, but this is the core of all action flicks, presented in a nicely stylized, no-fluff package. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some good old fashioned revenge." - Giovanni Colantonio [Full review HERE]
Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive. Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious--and dangerous--trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she'll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.
Mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano (American Gladiators) makes her feature film debut, starring and performing her own high-adrenaline stunts. The film’s talented cast also includes Channing Tatum (GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra), Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Antonio Banderas (Desperado), Bill Paxton (Titanic), Michael Douglas (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) and Michael Angarano (Almost Famous). The film is directed by Steven Soderbergh, produced by Gregory Jacobs (Ocean’s Trilogy) and written by Lem Dobbs (The Limey).
Runner Up #2: CONTRABAND
"Contraband isn’t truly profound when it comes to its themes, but it’s very focused and a pleasant surprise considering the inherent low expectations of the season. In some ways, it’s clearer than many of this year’s big Oscar contenders, taking a tired story and turning it into something engaging. Clichéd as it is at times, Contraband is a solid popcorn flick with a little brains mixed into its masculine aggression." - Giovanni Colantonio [Full review HERE]
Chris Farraday long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy, botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs, Chris is forced back into doing what he does best -- running contraband -- to settle Andy's debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian, to head to Panama and return with millions in counterfeit bills. Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate, and sons become their target.
Universal Pictures' Contraband is directed by Baltasar Kormákur and stars Mark Wahlberg (The Italian Job, Kate Beckinsale (Underworld: Awakening), Ben Foster (The Messenger and J.K. Simmons (Burn After Reading).
