The Grey Was So Good Roger Ebert Walked Out Of His Next Movie

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Liam Neeson appeared in a film that deeply impressed film critic Roger Ebert – he couldn’t even shake it from his mind while watching another movie. While Neeson is known for many straightforward action films, he’s also been in a few that truly stay with you, and this particular thriller was one of them.

Director Joe Carnahan is getting attention again with his new thriller, The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. This has led many to revisit his earlier work, and one film in particular stands out as a showcase of his skills: the 2011 survival action movie The Grey, which starred Liam Neeson.

Liam Neeson’s Survival Action Thriller Stands The Test Of Time

In the 2011 action thriller The Grey, Liam Neeson plays John Ottway, a skilled sharpshooter working at a secluded oil facility in Alaska. His job is to keep the workers safe from attacks by grey wolves. The movie’s main story begins after a plane carrying Ottway and his colleagues crashes in the harsh Alaskan wilderness.

After the plane crash, the survivors faced not only deadly cold but also a pack of grey wolves. Though Ottway had the skills to defend them, the harsh conditions, challenging personalities of the other survivors, and the sheer number of wolves made their chances of survival slim.

Joe Carnahan was already known as a skilled action director, having made films like the crime drama Narc and the thrilling Smokin’ Aces. But after directing the expensive but underwhelming The A-Team, he really needed a success. He found it with The Grey, which many consider to be his best work.

The movie earned $81.2 million globally, which was a modest financial success considering its $25 million production cost. More importantly, critics generally loved it, giving it an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Notably, the film had a significant impact on the renowned critic, Roger Ebert.

The Grey Left A Lasting Impact On Film Critic Roger Ebert

Robert Ebert gave The Grey a strong review, awarding it three and a half out of four stars. He found the film so intense and bleak that it stayed with him long after he left the theater. In fact, he was so preoccupied with it that he couldn’t even focus on another movie he tried to watch later that same day, walking out after just half an hour.

I’d never walked out of a movie because of what I’d just seen, but that’s exactly what happened. I felt so disturbed that I knew I couldn’t fairly watch another film right away. The movie created a really oppressive atmosphere – men with guns, predators waiting, and harsh weather. I found myself staring at the screen, increasingly anxious. It felt like the story had to offer some kind of hope, or at least a sense of resolution, didn’t it?

The movie The Grey didn’t offer a cheerful resolution, and that stuck with film critic Roger Ebert long after he watched it. It’s a testament to the film’s impact that even after seeing countless movies, this thriller stayed with him. Many consider The Grey to be Liam Neeson’s most compelling survival film.

Source: The Chicago Sun-Times

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2026-01-26 20:38