Grey Owl

Rating:
Summary: Grey Owl
Review: I loved this movie. Being a huge Brosnan fan AND being fascinated with Canada's vast wilderness most likely accounts for this. Ms. Galipeau carries this film; she is the vehicle by which we see into Grey Owl's charater, WHEN we see into his character. However, as much as I admire Mr. Brosnan as an actor, he really falls short here. He doesn't seem like an Indian, not a real one anyway. More like a movie Indian from the forties. The real Grey Owl was british but he had alot of people believing he was native. It seems that Mr. Brosnan would fit this role but it just doesn't work. At times he has the Canadian accent, sort of. But most of the time, especially in more "hurried" dialogue, he sounds like James Bond in buckskins. I am not trying to be mean, but this is hard to ignore and really detracts from this beautiful story, the telling of which was long overdue. The breathtaking scenery and music threading through was touching. I would love to have been able to see this movie on the big screen. Also, I would have liked to know more of the story; it left me wanting more. But then, movies I enjoy usually do.

Rating:
Summary: A Surprise Gem
Review: I rented this video on a whim; I'd never heard of Grey Owl and had more than a little difficulty picturing Pierce Brosnan as a believable Indian. I was transfixed by the story of Grey Owl, and pleasantly surprised by Brosnan's excellent portrayal of this complicated but important figure in conservation. It's a movie I've since purchased, and one I enjoy every time I watch it. Having done a fair amount of reading of Grey Owl's works after my first viewing, I've learned this is a moderately accurate portrayal of a complicated figure. It doesn't reveal all of his warts, but the focus of this film is rightly not just Grey Owl as a person, but his conversion and ultimate contribution to conservation. The public has a tendency to view heroes (or anyone) in black and white terms, and is notoriously uni-dimensional in their views of such people. Grey Owl (ironically, given his name) suffered that same fate. It's a story well worth watching and watching again. The cinematography alone is a treat for the eyes.

Rating:
Summary: A Surprise Gem
Review: I rented this video on a whim; I'd never heard of Grey Owl and had more than a little difficulty picturing Pierce Brosnan as a believable Indian. I was transfixed by the story of Grey Owl, and pleasantly surprised by Brosnan's excellent portrayal of this complicated but important figure in conservation. It's a movie I've since purchased, and one I enjoy every time I watch it. Having done a fair amount of reading of Grey Owl's works after my first viewing, I've learned this is a moderately accurate portrayal of a complicated figure. It doesn't reveal all of his warts, but the focus of this film is rightly not just Grey Owl as a person, but his conversion and ultimate contribution to conservation. The public has a tendency to view heroes (or anyone) in black and white terms, and is notoriously uni-dimensional in their views of such people. Grey Owl (ironically, given his name) suffered that same fate. It's a story well worth watching and watching again. The cinematography alone is a treat for the eyes.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Good
Review: I'm not usually a Pierce Brosnan fan but after I got over my initial doubts about him playing a Native Indian, I actually started to really get into this movie. Maybe it is somewhat romaticized but the underlying message of this film is more Important than ever.It was a refreshing change from other movie genres...I especially liked the Baby Beavers who are super cute
A must for animal and nature lovers-D

Rating:
Summary: no mention of .....
Review: in all the reviews i read, there is no mention that Grey Owl is in fact NON-NATIVE, HE'S BRITISH

this movie leaves out some very important aspects in Belaney's life, but if your looking for the truth about Belaney, then there are other places you can go for that information.

its alright that he chose to become a conservationist, but did he have to represent himself as native to get his voice heard?

at the same time, i'm told that being native is a way of life.

if your just looking for a lax movie with excellent scenery and music, then by all means, fill your boots.

Rating:
Summary: Loved the movie
Review: My husband and I both love this somewhat romanticized version of Grey Owl and his beautiful wife Anahareo. Contrary to other opinions contained herein, we felt Annie Galipeau gave an excellent performance. She did receive a best actress award for her role. Ignore the naysayers. See the movie. Then find and read the books.

Rating:
Summary: Grey Owl
Review: Pierce Brosnan is very good in the title role, and newcomer Annie Galipeau is delightful as his young wife.
The film makers squeeze every ounce of drama out of Grey Owl's life. The dvd comes with a clutch of short interviews with cast and crew, a short "On Location With" video and, most delightfully, two 10-minutes films featuring the real Grey Owl, made in the 1930s.
A pleasant enough film with some moving scenes between Galipeau and Brosnan, although non-environmentalists may ask what all the fuss is about..


Rating:
Summary: A GEM HANDLED WITH PASSION
Review: Pure poetry in motion is Richard Attenborough's GREY OWL, a beatifully acted and filmed true account story. Although some may consider Pierce Brosnan an aquired taste, here he taps into the talent he displayed years ago in an early John McTiernan film - NOMADS. Not only does Brosnan rely on the 'less is more' fundamentals - he also seems to color the character of Archie Grey Owl(a man with a past) with a pathos seldom seen by todays top box office male stars. As for Attenborough's direction - it to is careful, deliberate and completely poetic. As he did in CHAPLIN, Attenborough incorporates vintage footage into the story to create a perfect 'true story' feel. The Canadian backdrop is filmed with a glorious reverence. Nothing is pompous or 'lugubrious' about this film, as another reviewer stated. Instead, the thrust of this picture is one of heartfelt grandure -- told with a very delicate hand with extremely convincing performances all around. Sure there is a subplot - but it takes the viewer on a journey with the character and provides ample emotion and tension. Annie Galipeau plays a young modern native Canadian, who sees in Archie a chance to connect to ancient roots and feelings. She brings to her character a sense of passion for things only known as legend and provides a soothing metaphor for Brosnans hiddeness and angst. A scene involving Grey Owl and the elders of several Indian Nations hits with such force it invokes emotion not seen much in todays multi-plex market. Although this film seems to have gone straight to the shelves -- it seems far more worthy of a big screen outing than so many other lesser and far more cliched efforts.

Rating:
Summary: I liked this movie
Review: The first time I saw this movie I wasn't sure about it. After watching it many times since I find that I really like this movie. I have read books about Grey Owl, and I am glad the movie did not focus on Grey Owls battle with alcohol. It would have diminished the character. I thought this was a romantic movie that I enjoy watching over and over. As for Pierce Brosnans portayal of Grey Owl, excellent!!! This was quite a stretch for Mr Brosnan. I think his Bond, Remington Steele and Thomas Crown roles are pretty much in character for him. I think he had to work hard at this role and I feel he did an excellent job. I loved it when he showed the softer side of Grey Owl, I just fell in love with that character. Pierce looks good with long hair, or short hair, he would probably even look good bald. The man is #1 in my book. I did feel that the role of Anahareo could have been done better. I have never seen Annie Galipeau in anything befor. She is beautiful but this role was not for her. I agree with another review that her acting went from sometimes good to sometimes, well lets just say it was hard to watch. I don't think she complemented Pierce, the chemistry was not there. I feel sorry for Mr Brosnan because from what I have read he put his heart into this movie, and the movie industry thumbed their nose at the movie. If a movie is good it does't need sex and violenc to enhance it. This was a good movie that can stand its own. Lets hear it for Grey Owl and <Pierce Brosnan>.

Rating:
Summary: Grey Owl
Review: The true story (which I won't give away) of Grey Owl is certainly fascinating and you'd think that Richard Attenborough would have been able to make an interesting movie about the life of this man. Unfortunately, Attenborough (or the movie's writers) chose to "clean up" their hero and thus deprive us of a full picture of this man.

Attenborough's direction is, as usual, steady. He highlights the Canadian wilderness scenery quite well. Brosnan is actually perfectly cast in this film. In particular, his scenes of Grey Owl in England are especially moving. Annie Galipeau, the female lead, verges wildly from good acting to amazingly bad acting. What was she or Attenborough thinking?

With my complaints about the white-washing of the real man Grey Owl and with the spotty acting, I have to write that this film is probably worth $2 or $3 to rent, but I certainly wouldn't buy it.