Shootings, car chases and explosions in the center of Prague. Still, the Netflix hit disappointed
Czech police cars and a Prague tram in an American film. The action blockbuster The gray man is the most-watched title on Netflix.
The attempt at a James Bond “Mabe-by-Netflix” relies primarily on dramatic, dramatic action dominated by Prague locations. The filmmakers, led by Avengers directors Joe and Anthony Russo, left nearly CZK 300 million in Prague during the fortnight’s filming, according to Collider magazine.
The spy thriller set in the US Secret Service, starring Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas, had a budget of $200 million and was produced by Stillking Films for the Czech side. Prague depicted Bangkok, Vienna, Berlin, but also itself. You will see some scenes here: the Vítkov Memorial, the Republic Square, the Palace of Exhibitions and the Avenue of Heroes Dukla.
“A mysterious CIA agent uncovers secrets that could destroy the agency. A former colleague who has gone mad then puts a bounty on him and chases him around the world,” Netflix kicks off with its jam-packed new masterpiece. action that is shaking social media.
“One of the biggest and most impressive of the incredible nine action sequences takes place in Prague. In the sequence, you have Gosling under fire, with numerous cops and private assassins trying to catch or kill him” , explains Collider magazine in an interview with the makers of the film, who produced the film under the auspices of their own production company AGBO.
“Filming almost killed Anthony and me. I’m not kidding – by the end of filming, we were completely exhausted,” director and screenwriter Joe Russo shares. He was referring to the large number of intense, action-packed scenes of chases, fights and shootings in the streets of Prague, which were integrated into the trailer.In the film, the action scenes of Prague last almost 20 minutes and are dominated by the cars of the national policemen.
Russo adds that each scene requires a lot of thought and care in preparation before it unfolds. “Filming itself is still quite demanding, as is filming at night,” the director shared of the demanding filming process. “Other than Chris Evans, we hadn’t met anyone who was so good at stunts and fighting until we met Ryan Gosling,” added the director.
The American team, in cooperation with Czech filmmakers, filmed scenes in Holešovice, in front of the Rudolfinum and on the Čech Bridge, which represented the corners of Prague, Vienna and Berlin. The Karlín Futurama Business Park complex was used to represent Bangkok.
Prague plans were sometimes supplemented with skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. The dominant feature of the Prague shoot, however, is an action sequence with a tram and Czech policemen, which became an internet hit.
With a budget of $200 million, the film surpassed Netflix’s most expensive film to date: legendary director Martin Scorsese’s mobster Irishman, which cost “only” $159 million. It took ten years to prepare The Gray Man and premiered in 450 theaters in America.
“Number 1 on Netflix” with an average rating
The critical ratings and reviews are rather embarrassing and rather poor. While the American Movies Database rotten tomatoes holds an average rating of 47%, the Czech-Slovak Film Database rates the film at 61%.
In its opening weekend, it topped the tracking charts. The gray man is Netflix’s most-watched movie. On opening day it was number one in 91 countries,” the Russo brothers wrote on Twitter. He added that they were proud of the cast and crew as well as the viewers who watched the film.
“Despite all its excess, The gray man is great fun. Ryan Gosling enjoys every moment while Chris Evans devours the action scenes. Even though these are hackneyed elements, they are not inaccessible,” writes film critic John Anderson in a review for The Wall Street Journal.
“A mysterious CIA agent uncovers secrets that could destroy the agency. A former co-worker gone mad then puts a bounty on him and chases him around the world,” Netflix teases in its new film.
