Screenwriting : Gray Man and Persuasion, opinions on recent NF "blockbusters"? by Christiane Lange

Christiane Lange

Gray Man and Persuasion, opinions on recent NF "blockbusters"?

So, probs shouldn't even ask about Persuasion, because I found it so profoundly awful that I gave up after 15 minutes. It seemed like a sophomoric commentary on the original text. But curious what others think.

Gray Man is supposedly a major gambit from NF to revive the brand and start a franchise. Granted, I am one of those people who fast forwards through car chases, so not the target audience. But if an action thriller has a good plot, I enjoy it, in spite of the car chases. This? It seemed formulaic. Explosions? Check. Fight scenes? Check. Hardcore CIA women? Check. Exotic European locations? Check. All the while with a weak plot, in my opinion, that seemed like an afterthought to justify the explosions etc. Wannabe Bourne Conspiracy basically, but maybe I am too harsh?

Dan MaxXx

Not shocking why Netflix stocks have tanked. Over spending, throw huge money at filmmakers and expect $1B returns. Failed!

Anyways, nobody knows what's the next big hit.(and GM has an All-Star team).

Christiane Lange

Dan MaxXx Yes, GM is clearly a high stakes production. Just seems like a classic Cineplex movie and not necessarily a NF movie.

Dan MaxXx

Christiane Lange probably NF paid the filmmakers a boatload of $ for their services! Them filmmakers will move on to the employer, next big gig :)

E Langley

Didn't bother with GRAY MAN. Why? Sick and tired of the same story with different faces and peccadilloes churned out time and time again. Not a fan of period, so no PERSUASON as well.

Instead, visited NOPE.

Rutger Oosterhoff

Fully agree. Hollywood seems out of ideas, I know, I'm lying...2005 upwards -- they've always been!

Jon Shallit

GRAY MAN boom boom explosions shaky camera to make it "action" and bad music

Sheila D. Boyd

I guess I'm the outlier here. 'Gray Man' is not great or original, but it is entertaining. Nothing I would 'watchlist' or get dressed specifically to go out and pay to see, but it's an action movie made by a streamer, and expectations were met. Plus, it has Alfre Woodard, whom I would watch boil an egg.

Beth-Anne Blue

Agreed…(Sheila)…as I would Ryan Gosling or BBT. My husband thought the drone shots made him a little nauseated! It definitely wasn’t DRIVE but RG always has my attention when he’s behind the wheel. Thought it was funny when they referred him as @that Ken doll” when he’s got that Barbie movie coming out Agreed it was a JB wannabe, but pickings are slim these days!

Phillip E. Hardy, "The Pro From Dover"

I agree about Persuasion. My wife and I watched the first God-awful 20 minutes and shut it down. It's a flaming piece of woke excrement. I recommend the definitive version of this film, made in 1995, starring Amanda Root and Carian Hinds. It's a beautiful rendering of the Austen Novel. Here is the link.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114117/

E Langley

Take your décolleté and hit the road! :)

Good News: THE GRAY MAN sequel is in development at Netflix as a franchise. THE GRAY MAN RETURNS, SON OF THE GRAY MAN, REVENGE OF THE GRAY MAN, THE GRAY MAN AD NAUSEUM.

Dan MaxXx

The books are very successful. Maybe the average viewer (non-writers) want GM tv series & movie sequels

Sheila D. Boyd

Of course there is at least one sequel. The hero, a very popular and very pretty man, walks off into the sunset with the cat he just saved, leaving behind the ultimate villain who got away with the nefarious deed, an ally who can't admit she's in love with the hero, and an integrity-compromised but remorseful double-dealer working alongside the villain. There is absolutely nothing about this movie that says "one-off."

E Langley

Proof the "Save The Cat" format works. :)

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