Did anyone catch this film which features Mel Gibson's return to acting after nine years? Apparently not, from the clear lack of presence on this board.
Anyway, I caught Edge of Darkness, directed by Martin Campbell (The Mask of Zorro, GoldenEye, Casino Royale) and written by William Monahan (The Departed) over the weekend and I have to say I was impressed. The trailer might have been a tad deceiving, as it was promoting a hardcore action thriller, and Edge of Darkness is anything but. It's a slow burn, noir-esque thriller that is more procedural than action-packed, and I think for that very reason it excels.
Featuring Mel Gibson's return to acting since 2003's tepidly received The Singing Detective co-starring Robert Downey Jr. (he appeared in the TV show Complete Savages in 2005) and his first real blockbuster gig since 2002's Signs (hard to imagine), Edge of Darkness is a return to form for Mel Gibson who comes out swinging. Playing Detective Thomas Craven, a Boston police officer, he gives the role so much unpredictable relish and emotional sensitivity that it harkens back to his performance in Lethal Weapon.
In the film, Craven loses his daughter and the idea is that he was the intended target. He enters a web of intrigue & mystery as he unravels the truth behind his daughter's death, which connects him to the military contracting organization his daughter worked for (represented by Danny Huston, playing a greasy slimeball of a villain) and a "government fixer" played in the form of Ray Winstone (The Departed). The film's best scenes are when Gibson & Winstone have surprisingly emotional and tender moments that give the film a somber and unexpected density.
Edge of Darkness is not perfect. It is based off of a BBC miniseries that probably had more depth and development, also directed by Campbell, but the film doesn't pull any punches. It effectively builds mood and atmosphere and when the violence hits you, it's brutal and graphic. Campbell is an accomplished director and has crafted a fantastic modern thriller.
Anyway, did anyone else catch this film and if so, what were your thoughts?
Anyway, I caught Edge of Darkness, directed by Martin Campbell (The Mask of Zorro, GoldenEye, Casino Royale) and written by William Monahan (The Departed) over the weekend and I have to say I was impressed. The trailer might have been a tad deceiving, as it was promoting a hardcore action thriller, and Edge of Darkness is anything but. It's a slow burn, noir-esque thriller that is more procedural than action-packed, and I think for that very reason it excels.
Featuring Mel Gibson's return to acting since 2003's tepidly received The Singing Detective co-starring Robert Downey Jr. (he appeared in the TV show Complete Savages in 2005) and his first real blockbuster gig since 2002's Signs (hard to imagine), Edge of Darkness is a return to form for Mel Gibson who comes out swinging. Playing Detective Thomas Craven, a Boston police officer, he gives the role so much unpredictable relish and emotional sensitivity that it harkens back to his performance in Lethal Weapon.
In the film, Craven loses his daughter and the idea is that he was the intended target. He enters a web of intrigue & mystery as he unravels the truth behind his daughter's death, which connects him to the military contracting organization his daughter worked for (represented by Danny Huston, playing a greasy slimeball of a villain) and a "government fixer" played in the form of Ray Winstone (The Departed). The film's best scenes are when Gibson & Winstone have surprisingly emotional and tender moments that give the film a somber and unexpected density.
Edge of Darkness is not perfect. It is based off of a BBC miniseries that probably had more depth and development, also directed by Campbell, but the film doesn't pull any punches. It effectively builds mood and atmosphere and when the violence hits you, it's brutal and graphic. Campbell is an accomplished director and has crafted a fantastic modern thriller.
Anyway, did anyone else catch this film and if so, what were your thoughts?
