Edge Of Darkness (Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone) : Movie Review
February 9, 2010 by Tony Montana
Filed under Movie Reviews, Movies
Edge of Darkness is all about Mel Gibson kicking ass and taking names in his first leading role in eight years.
It might not feel like a comeback, but Mel’s made sure to give longtime fans everything they want to see – if what they want to see involves Mel being an unstoppable force turning his enemies into punching bag.
Though as far as the story goes, it’s also about Boston cop Tommy Craven (Gibson) battering his way through a sinister government conspiracy after his daughter is gunned down on his doorstep and dies coughing blood in his arms.
Usually in a conspiracy thriller the lead is on the back foot at least some of the time as the vast conspiracy destroys their life. Here Tommy’s life ends when his daughter dies, and what’s left is a man with nothing to lose – and nothing to fear.
Mel Gibson : Sober And Not Ranting
WHAT’S THE BUZZ
Director Martin Campbell is best know today for Casino Royale, but back in the 1980s he directed the original UK mini-series version of Edge of Darkness, so he knows his way around the material. In turning it into an American movie he sands off a few of the original’s rougher edges, but for the most part this retains the grim momentum and bleak worldview of the original.
Creepy government types plot and scheme, conversations can end at any time with someone being killed (seriously, you don’t want to stop to have a chat with Tommy) and the whole story actually feels kind of plausible for a conspiracy thriller.
Probably because most of the plot twists and turns are in the background: this is a film about Mel Gibson kicking down doors and slapping people around, and if you’re not interested in that then you’re not interested in this – no matter how well put-together it is.
WATCH OUT FOR
Ray Winstone as a bone-weary CIA fixer who lets Tommy’s rampage continue out of professional courtesy. Winstone’s great as usual, but it’s an oddly pointless role: fun as it is to see him and Mel together as the manliest men alive, he’s not a character the movie really needs to work
WATCH OUT FOR | RATING : 4 / 5
