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THE GREY Movie Reviews
Story: Action adventure about a group of oil-rig roughnecks who must fight to survive when their plane crashes in the remote Alaskan wilderness. Cast: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, James Badge Dale, Joe Anderson Director: Joe Carnahan Opened: January 27, 2012 On DVD: May 22, 2012 From: Open Road Films Rating: R Length: 1 hr. 57 min.
Out On DVD
MAY 22, 2012
The Grey, Good (Not Great) Reviews
Updated: Thu, May 3 2012, 06:13pm
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The Grey played to good not great reviews. • Shawn Levy wrote in the Portland Oregonian, "...simple but not shallow, focused but not constricted, pointed but not single-minded.... a genuinely entertaining thriller that puts a chill through you in more ways than one." • And Emanuel Levy wrote for Cinema 24/7, "Neeson pulls you into the story, even if it's a familiar (and trashy) one."   More Reviews Below...

The Grey
Positive Reviews
(48 Reviews,  reviews below)
 Compare This Movie... 
TotalBroad
National
Press
Local
News-
papers
Alter–
native/
Indie
High-
Brow
Press
Movie
Industry
NY/LA
Chicago
Toronto
Key
Cities
Total
B.O.
63.4% 60.0% 68.6% 62.5% 78.0% 72.2% 68.9% 60.1% $51.5M
Averages: 51.8% 54.1% 52.3% 46.9% 45.8% 48.7% 49.9% 54.7%
Reviews & Quotes (48)

BROAD NATIONAL PRESS (10 Reviews)
Alynda Wheat, People: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"A promising setup leads to a standard-issue disaster plot that picks off the nearly indistinguishable survivors one by one." (Read the full review...)
164 words, 01/26/12

Richard Corliss, Time: MODERATE
"If it ran about 80 mins., 'The Grey' could be a smartish man-against-the-elements thriller. Unfortunately it ambles in at nearly two hours, an arid expanse..." (Read the full review...)
872 words, 01/27/12

Jake Coyle, Associated Press: MODERATE (cg)
"...deserves credit for looking for gravity in genre tropes. But, ultimately, the film feels less like a genuine existential thriller than a movie aping the conventions of one." (Read the full review...)
673 words, 01/26/12

Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
" 'Alive'? '127 Hours'? Lightweights compared to this white-knuckle survival thriller.... the film is at its most chilling when the men just quietly converse about their mortality." (Read the full review...)
102 words, 01/26/12

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"There are eight, and then there are seven, and then there are fewer than that.... He can't go on.... He goes on. So, apparently, do these Liam Neeson action passion plays..." (Read the full review...)
440 words, 01/27/12

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...terrifically exciting, deeply unsettling.... full of beauty and terror and a healing sense of grace... brings us face to face with our own worst fears. Hold on tight." (Read the full review...)
343 words, 01/27/12

Claudia Puig, USA Today: MODERATE (cg)
"What starts as a tense and moody survival thriller fairly quickly becomes tedious, forced and far-fetched..." (Read the full review...)
455 words, 01/27/12

Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: OUTSTANDING (cg)
"There are more wolves than men. The men have weapons, the wolves have patience, the weather is punishing. I sat regarding the screen with mounting dread." (Read the full review...)
683 words, 01/27/12

Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...the film tries to come to terms with what one really needs, steely attitude aside, to survive in an environment in which literally everything is against you." (Read the full review...)
704 words, 01/23/12

James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...a welcome surprise - a suspenseful survival tale that eschews the cheesiness of 'The Edge' in favor of something a little more thoughtful and contemplative." (Read the full review...)
945 words, 01/30/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (14 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT
"...a simple story that ventures into some profound existential territory... It takes death seriously, and partly as a consequence, every moment, every frame, feels alive." (Read the full review...)
940 words, 01/27/12

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT (cg)
"The gristle inside this movie is one of the things that save it from being simply a series of challenges. Neeson is perfect for this stuff." (Read the full review...)
422 words, 01/27/12

Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune: VERY GOOD
"Tough situation. Frostbite. Wolf bite. Drowning. Falling from great heights. Harsh outcomes abound for both man and beast.... Call 'The Grey' 'Deliverance Lite'..." (Read the full review...)
581 words, 01/27/12

Kyle Smith, New York Post: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...arm wrestles rather than tackles the harsh riddles of manly existence... an unusually reflective blood-and-guts saga." (Read the full review...)
488 words, 01/27/12

Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: MODERATE (cg)
"Brutal violence and softhearted sentiment make for an uneven mix... watchable but frustrating..." (Read the full review...)
330 words, 01/27/12

David Edelstein, New York Magazine: MODERATE
"Neeson's gravity elevates the action... But the film, despite moments of sublimity, is as predictable as a funeral." (Read the full review...)
340 words, 01/30/12

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING (cg)
"There are more wolves than men. The men have weapons, the wolves have patience, the weather is punishing. I sat regarding the screen with mounting dread." (Read the full review...)
683 words, 01/27/12

Brian Miller, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR
"There's too much Jack London, and, as they systematically pick off the stragglers, too many CGI wolves go unpunched." (Read the full review...)
212 words, 01/25/12

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...urges contemplation on man as the human animal... There are many moments that make your heart pound. But it also insists that we engage our brains..." (Read the full review...)
590 words, 01/27/12

Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"As the men keep getting picked off, the narrative slides toward a refreshingly grim and ambiguous ending." (Read the full review...)
578 words, 01/27/12

Josep Parera, La Opinion: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"...apuesta por un tratamiento simple aunque efectivo de la eterna historia de supervivencia..." (Read the full review...)
402 words, 01/27/12

Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"...undermined by unconvincing wolf effects (a mixture of CG, animatronics and real animals) and a clumsy backstory for Neeson's character..." (Read the full review...)
183 words, 01/26/12
KEY CITIES (12 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...packs as much visual ingenuity and emotional meaning as it does raw-boned physical derring-do.... keeps the sometimes graphically gory action beats coming at a crisp pace." (Read the full review...)
916 words, 01/27/12

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"There are witty nods to other such films (Werner Herzog's 'Grizzly Man,' Ethan Hawke's Andes plane crash-cannibal tale, 'Alive'), but the wit stops there." (Read the full review...)
495 words, 01/27/12

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING (cg)
"...unusually hard, tense, cruel, intelligent and straightforward.... it entirely holds you. You quickly forget that it's just a movie... it's terrific." (Read the full review...)
515 words, 01/27/12

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...tries to infuse the proceedings with a what-is-life-worth vibe, which is sporadically effective.... Neeson carries the film, as he carries the action in it." (Read the full review...)
554 words, 01/27/12

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: MODERATE (cg)
"...wants to be both a Liam Neeson 'Quit Taking My Stuff' movie and an existential thriller about survival. We've come, in vain, to see him danse-macabre with wolves..." (Read the full review...)
592 words, 01/27/12

Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"Neeson is, as always, a formidable presence... The rest of the cast, however, is mostly wolf chow, marked only by a few details -- guy with thick glasses, nice guy, black guy." (Read the full review...)
596 words, 01/27/12

Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle: POOR (cg)
"...the characters are far from memorable. Their main purpose is to trudge through the cold, or occasionally just sit in it, while bickering and waiting for the wolves to reappear..." (Read the full review...)
360 words, 01/27/12

Soren Andersen, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...harshly beautiful... you feel you can practically see your breath as the story unfolds." (Read the full review...)
453 words, 01/27/12

Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: EXCELLENT (cg)
"...simple but not shallow, focused but not constricted, pointed but not single-minded.... a genuinely entertaining thriller that puts a chill through you in more ways than one." (Read the full review...)
550 words, 01/27/12

Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: POOR (cg)
"If you're ever stranded in a frigid wilderness after a plane crash and wolves are stalking you, don't do what people do in 'The Grey.' You will die, either from animal mauling, exposure or boredom." (Read the full review...)
507 words, 01/26/12

Tom Long, Detroit News: POOR (cg)
"Directed and co-written by Joe Carnahan with a macho-existential tone that becomes laughable... may appeal to those who like entrails, tough talk and bad endings." (Read the full review...)
307 words, 01/27/12

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: POOR (cg)
"...ridiculous... you wish someone would turn into a werewolf. Is there anything more boring than a respectable B-movie?" (Read the full review...)
614 words, 01/27/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (10 Reviews)
Brian Miller, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR
"There's too much Jack London, and, as they systematically pick off the stragglers, too many CGI wolves go unpunched." (Read the full review...)
212 words, 01/25/12

Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...has exciting ambition and the highest emotional stakes imaginable, but it also feels like a bit of an overshot..." (Read the full review...)
581 words, 01/26/12

Betsy Sherman, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...outstanding sound design creates and sustains tension... a film that's both visceral and thoughtful." (Read the full review...)
148 words, 01/26/12

Scott Tobias, AV Club: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"Neeson brings gravitas to the table... But in a scenario this persistently ludicrous, he can only do so much." (Read the full review...)
405 words, 01/26/12

Stephanie Zacharek, Movieline: EXCELLENT (cg)
"What is surprising is how poetic the movie is, partly thanks to its high-lonesome sound design and the desolate beauty of its visuals, but mostly because of its star, Liam Neeson." (Read the full review...)
1,157 words, 01/26/12

Jesse Cataldo, Slant: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...old-fashioned, neatly arrayed... a film where plans still have the utmost importance, but they're finally integrated organically into the fabric of the plot..." (Read the full review...)
816 words, 01/23/12

Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"...undermined by unconvincing wolf effects (a mixture of CG, animatronics and real animals) and a clumsy backstory for Neeson's character..." (Read the full review...)
183 words, 01/26/12

Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"Neeson's haunted countenance and gruff delivery can nearly take all the guilt out of watching a guilty-pleasure movie." (Read the full review...)
646 words, 01/27/12

MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: EXCELLENT (cg)
"This ain't no turn-your-brain-off popcorn flick. It's a look-into-the-void popcorn flick. We don't see many of them." (Read the full review...)
1,056 words, 01/25/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (5 Reviews)
John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: VERY GOOD
"...certainly an adventure film but one with a spiritual ingredient that is both surprising and fiercely resonant." (Read the full review...)
202 words, 01/27/12

A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT
"...a simple story that ventures into some profound existential territory... It takes death seriously, and partly as a consequence, every moment, every frame, feels alive." (Read the full review...)
940 words, 01/27/12

Ian Buckwalter, NPR: VERY GOOD
"...a tough-as-nails study of hardened men struggling with the ostensibly conflicting pulls of stoic masculinity on one hand and love, faith and fear of death on the other." (Read the full review...)
681 words, 01/26/12

Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD
"Tough situation. Frostbite. Wolf bite. Drowning. Falling from great heights. Harsh outcomes abound for both man and beast.... Call 'The Grey' 'Deliverance Lite'..." (Read the full review...)
581 words, 01/27/12

Dana Stevens, Slate: EXCELLENT
"I pretty much loved this movie from start to finish -- risible implausibilities, insufficiently explained premise and all..." (Read the full review...)
995 words, 01/26/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Joe Leydon, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT)
"...dialogue-heavy stretches and an ambiguous finale could leave ticketbuyers impatient for less chatter and more chomping." (Read the full review...)
846 words, 01/17/12

John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD
"...will satisfy the action audience while reminding more discerning viewers what they saw in director Joe Carnahan's decade-old breakthrough, 'Narc.' " (Read the full review...)
560 words, 01/17/12

Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD
"Tough situation. Frostbite. Wolf bite. Drowning. Falling from great heights. Harsh outcomes abound for both man and beast.... Call 'The Grey' 'Deliverance Lite'..." (Read the full review...)
581 words, 01/27/12

Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: GOOD (cg)
"...a well-executed survival thriller.... Neeson pulls you into the story, even if it's a familiar (and trashy) one." (Read the full review...)
877 words, 01/23/12

A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT
"...a simple story that ventures into some profound existential territory... It takes death seriously, and partly as a consequence, every moment, every frame, feels alive." (Read the full review...)
940 words, 01/27/12

John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: VERY GOOD
"...certainly an adventure film but one with a spiritual ingredient that is both surprising and fiercely resonant." (Read the full review...)
202 words, 01/27/12
(cg) = based on the critic's grade

Review Mixture
18.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews
(Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)

The Grey's reviews are separated by an average 18.4 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.

The Grey
(48 reviews)
Roll over dots for each review
Broad National   Alternative/Indie   Highbrow Press   Key Cities
NY, LA, Chicago, & Toronto Movie Industry  
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Moderate
Weak
Poor
Reviews
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Moderate
Weak
Poor
Reviews
Big
Publications
>Bigger
Publications
>Biggest
Publications
Coverage, Volume & Length

Coverage: The Grey's reviews cover 95.0% of potential readers (average is 68.2%). Volume: The film's reviews total 26,665 words in volume (average is 19,979 words). Length: The film's reviews average 556 words in length (the norm is 512 words).

The Grey
Coverage, Volume & Length
(48 Reviews,  reviews below)
TotalBroad
National
Press
Local
News-
papers
Alter–
native/
Indie
High-
Brow
Press
Movie
Industry
NY/LA
Chicago
Toronto
Key
Cities
Total
B.O.
Coverage:
Volume:
Length:
95.0%
26,665
556
100.0%
5,381
538
97.5%
12,050
548
100.0%
5,416
542
74.8%
3,399
680
100.0%
4,006
668
100.0%
6,538
467
93.9%
6,459
538
$51.5M
Averages: 68.2%
19,979
512
66.7%
3,178
451
80.2%
10,677
521
80.8%
3,310
430
58.7%
2,374
630
85.2%
3,407
685
83.7%
5,861
500
73.0%
2,885
539
Opening Day Reviews
Reviews Broke 14.3 Hours Before Release (Norm is 0.2 Release)

The Grey's reviews on average broke 14.3 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 0.2 hours after. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is The Grey's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.

The Grey
(48 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
M O R E    P O S I T I V E    R E V I E W S
E
A
R
L
I
E
R
L
A
T
E
R
M O R E    N E G A T I V E    R E V I E W S
Movie Review Intelligence Mobile Web App 1.0
Updated: Thu, May 3 2012, 06:13pm
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