When last we saw Mel Gibson the actor, in 2002’s Signs, he was on a farm hiding from aliens and trying to get a grip on his fading faith. Eight years and one drunken rant later, he’s back to gripping a gun and blowing away bad guys in Edge of Darkness, a revenge flick with some actual nuance whose ambling pace will probably aggravate anyone expecting the next Taken.
Based on a six-hour British miniseries from 1985, it sees Gibson sporting a Beantown accent as a veteran Boston cop doggedly investigating how the nefarious government-related activities of a major corporation led to his activist daughter (Bojana Novakovic) being murdered right in front of him.
Where the original obviously had more time to develop the characters and such, this one has to make do with two hours. As it is, Gibson’s great at grieving, be it cradling his daughter’s dead body, or forcefully telling a coroner to leave said body alone. Or responding to his dead daughter’s voice telling him he needs to go on. In the film’s most touching scene he remembers showing her how to shave.
Further helping matters is burly Brit Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast) who, as a shadowy-but-principled government agent working for the bad guys, expertly exudes intelligent menace. His tense tête-à-têtes with Gibson represent the film’s high points, one of which ends with Gibson telling the assassin, “Thanks for not killing me.”
Unfortunately, the plot suffers by being so streamlined. The original’s probably tried to say something about government injustices, but this one’s is just a tad ridiculous, replete with a slightly psycho corporate baddie (Danny Huston), stereotypically slimy politicians and references to radiation. Not to mention Gibson seemingly being given carte blanche to rough people up for information.
Thankfully, director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), a true action expert who also helmed the miniseries, nails what little action there is–like Gibson fighting his dead kid’s frightened boyfriend, or Gibson smoothly maneuvering through traffic as he chases Huston–and gives us lots of blood to boot. People get shot in the legs, head, chest and one gets rammed by a car.
A car which Gibson takes out in excellent and exciting fashion. He shoots the driver dead, shoots out the tires so the car doesn’t hit him and then watches it flip over and slam into a raging river. Suffice it to say Gibson with a gun is a good thing here. Together they give this leisurely thriller some edge. – [DVD]
Drama/Thriller
Rated R
DVD Release Date: 5/11/10
[...] EDGE OF DARKNESS [...]
[...] EDGE OF DARKNESS [...]