"The Gray Man" on Netflix [View all]

[nuxvomica]

Ryan Gosling plays "Six", a convicted murderer whose life sentence is commuted in exchange for joining a secret group of elite hitmen, the Sierra Program, managed by a CIA official (Billy Bob Thornton). What follows is a textbook example of a well-funded cloak-and-dagger actioner: there's a hefty price on Six's head, corrupt higher ups (Regé-Jean Page ), a sadistic villain (Chris Evans), a sidelined retired official (Alfre Woodard), a maguffin that could blow the whole corrupt enterprise wide open, and a sick child mercilessly threatened by the bad guys. The moral tone is set early on when Thornton's character, commenting on the crime that put Six in prison, says, "I would have done the same thing."

The action in this film is continuous, relentless, and so far over the top I don't think you can even see "the top" from where it is: a series of violent, complexly orchestrated set pieces with explosions, car chases, and firefights set in exotic locations across the globe, each one proudly introduced by titles in big block letters. It all works because at it's core is the hero's code, simply but rigorously played out, even to a nice little twist near the end. Gosling's performance is surprisingly perfect, and he's well supported by both Thornton and Woodard, each of whom can steal a scene with one deft line reading, along with Evans' almost too self-satisfied turn as a psychopath.

I really enjoyed this sumptuously produced amusement-park ride (especially just after struggling through the lethargy, pomposity and moral ambivalence of Amazon's The Terminal List). Much has been said about the film's $200-million budget but I will attest it really is all there, on screen, and it's actually breathtaking at times.