Grey Owl Reviews

Making a living in Canada as a trapper in 1934, Grey Owl (Pierce Brosnan) isolates himself from civilization, but gains renown as a hunter and nature writer. In flashbacks, we unravel the tangled tale of Archie Belaney (Brosnan), who migrated from England in order to pursue his goal of living like the Noble Savage. Having reinvented himself as Grey Owl, Archie eventually emerges as a spokesperson for "his people" and attracts the attention of a publisher. Grey Owl also catches the eye of Mohawk beauty Pony (Anne Galipeau), who follows him into the Canadian wilderness. Under her spell, he becomes a wildlife preservationist, particularly concerned with replenishing the decimated beaver population. During a later lecture tour of England, "Grey Owl" is reunited with the loving aunts who raised him. When a journalist finally pieces together Archie's true identity, he withholds the truth until after Grey Owl dies. While it isn't difficult to comprehend Richard Attenborough's attraction to this fascinating story, one can't help but wish he hadn't overburdened what's essentially a low-key drama with the same epic grandeur he brought to GHANDI and A BRIDGE TOO FAR. Instead of letting scenes speak for themselves, Attenborough weighs each frame with beauty and import, until the film buckles under the weight of its own self-importance. And while there's nothing inherently risible about a Caucasian embracing the Native American lifestyle, when you've got the hopelessly urbane Brosnan in braids, you're asking for snickers.