THE GRAY MAN

US, 2022, 126 minute, Colour.

Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwood, Dhanush, Alfre Woodard, Rege-Jean Page, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Shea Whigham.

Directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo.

Yes, we have probably seen all this before. But, does this matter? If it is done well and entertainingly, why not see it all again. Which, for most audiences, will be the case with The Gray Man.

We are in the world of espionage, encounter-espionage. We are in the world of the CIA – not always a comfortable world, not always a moral world, a world of political and moral grey. Which, for dramatic purposes, as we have known for decades with James Bond and other spies, can be exciting for us as we sit comfortably in our cinema seats or home lounges.

What makes this story little different is that the central character went to prison as a teenager (and, as we meet him when young, we suspect that he does not really deserve to be there) accused of killing his father. The explanation of why and how comes only at the end of the film. And he is played by Ryan Gosling, a versatile actor but not one whom we might immediately think of as an American equivalent of a less flamboyant James Bond (but, Gosling might have made an interesting James Bond). In prison, he is recruited by the CIA chief, Roy, played by the always-effective Billy Bob Thornton. His codename is Six. Because he has been sentenced to life imprisonment, then the offer to be an agent, a hitman, does, at least, offer him more freedom of movement.

The opening is in Bangkok, 2021, elaborate sets (as is the case throughout the whole film, with settings ranging from Hong Kong, Croatia, Berlin, Vienna…). Six fulfils his mission but discovers that he is being betrayed, that he is being targeted by the ruthless CIA chief, Carmichael (a coldly ruthless performance by Bridgerton’s Rege-Jean Page).

What follows, sometimes at fairly breathless pace, abductions, hostage taking, shootouts, car chases (the usual ingredients that we might expect, hopeful) is Six using all his wits to escape but also to pursue his nemesis. He has an advantage that his Bangkok connection, Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas in yet another substantial leading role, Knives Out, Blonde, No Time to Die) believes him and not only comes to the rescue at times, is able to join in the final confrontation, Six showing some vulnerabilities and she using her strength and wits.

There is also the human element, Six having babysat Fitzroy’s niece, heart condition, pacemaker, and who is now hostage with her uncle to lure Six back. The surprise element at this stage of the proceedings is to discover the sadistically smiling psychopath torturer, Lloyd Hansen, cruel, sardonic, narcissistic, arrogantly self-confident, the villain of the film. And, surprisingly, he is played by Chris Evans, Captain America himself. Chris Evans played this role for four films by this film’s directors, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, two Captain America films and two Avengers films.

So, you will know whether you want to see The Gray Man and enjoy this kind of spectacular, expensively-made, international, espionage action and adventure. (This reviewer saw The Gray Man in cinema release, big screen, darkened space, atmosphere (the best way!) before it moved to Netflix streaming.

1. Popular action thriller? Espionage? Counterespionage? The CIA, agents, hitmen? Orders, security, betrayal?
2. The credibility of the plot, realistic, heightened and dramatic? The CIA, organisation, power, decisions, recruiting agents, the training, long careers, assassinations?
3. The range of settings, international, the lavish party in Bangkok, setting, the home in Hong Kong, offices and sequences in Berlin, in Vienna, the Castle in Croatia, Washington DC? The musical score?
4. The introduction to Six, age, in prison, his background story, the later explanations with his cruel father and treatment of his brother, going to prison, literally, personality, recruiting, persuasive? The relationship between Six and Fitzroy over the decades, father figure, introduction to Claire, pacemaker, illness, babysitting her in Hong Kong, saving her from dangers? His sense of obligation to Fitzroy, to Claire?
5. His commission, Bangkok, the agent from DC, control, communication, the target, the detail, planning, confrontation? The target, the explanation that he was Four? The explanations, the CIA planned to a eliminate the prisoner-agents? Six killing the target, the details of the escape?
6. Six and his situation, on the run, his skill in escaping, getting to Vienna, the man with the passports, the betrayal, the pursuit, the water and the explosion, further escapes?
7. Carmichael, his role in the CIA, cold in ruthless, ambitious, the past connections with the agents, their plans, with Lloyd Hansen? The elimination of the agents?
8. Lloyd Hansen, seen as torturer, personality, psychopathic, smiling and sardonic? Relentless? The pursuit of Six? Finding him in Vienna, the taking of Fitzroy, the torture, the abduction of Claire?
9. Dani, her sense of the CIA, of Carmichael, of believing Six, coming to his help, helping with the escapes? The timing, fighting?
10. Hansen, the confrontation with Fitzroy? The plans with Claire?
11. The Castle in Croatia, Six getting the information, with Dani, the travel?
12. The siege, the attack, the heroics, the plan and shrewdness, baiting Hansen, his getting the upper hand, Dani and her contribution? Her fighting skills?
13. In the Castle, Fitzroy with the bomb, urging their escape, to protect Claire, Claire, her age, fears, devotion to her uncle? The explosion?
14. Carmichael, the pressure on his associate, her turning against him, the confrontation at the pool, her killing Hansen? The official story?
15. Six, Dani, the future?
16. A successful example of this kind of action espionage?