On the Edge

On Friday I ventured out into the cold and saw Edge of Darkness. This is the first movie that Mel Gibson has acted in in about 5 years and he hadn’t directed anything since 2006s Apocalypto. He stepped out of the spotlight after his alcoholism got out of control and he made those anti-Semitic comments. I guess he wanted to give people time to forgive and forget (forget being the operative word). I personally wasn’t keen on seeing the movie (not because of his personal issues) but my friend wanted to see it and there was nothing else showing.

Mel Gibson plays Thomas Craven, a straight collared homicide detective. After his daughter Emma (Bojana Novakovic) is brutally murdered in front of him he begins his quest to uncover who did it and make them pay. He knows little about what is daughter has been upto in recent times. He uncovers that she has become an activist and was on the verge of exposing a corporate cover-up and the government’s involvement. But he is not the only one doing some investigating. The government has also hired Jebburgh (Ray Winstone), an agent to clean up the evidence and find out what exactly happened.

After watching Edge of Darkness I actually had to talk myself into liking the movie and talk it out with my friend. I am not saying that as a bad thing, it was good. The problem was that it was not what I was expecting and I think that threw me off. It was not an action movie even though there were action sequences. And it was definitely a revenge movie but more on the investigating than the revenging even though that was the culminating point to the movie. The movie overall is a very sombre thriller. The movie is quiet and has a very sad tone.

The acting was good. Mel Gibson played a cross between Riggs and Porter, semi-psychotic with good detective skills and looking for payback. Danny Huston is really believable as Jack Bennett, a corporate monster and Emma’s former boss. He was calm, cool, and cruel when he was on his turf but a complete, as the girl behind me said, pussy when he was directly in danger. Damian Young also does a good job as Senator Jim Pine. He is snide, conceited, and self involved.

The directing was okay. Martin Campbell gave the movie a feel. It was stark for the most part but when the violence came it was sudden and intense. He also didn’t shy away from showing injury or blood. They showed a close up on the missing part of some dudes (what used to be) face. It was a little extra but not over the top. But for the most part he didn’t do anything spectacular, he just showed you what was happening.

The overall story was well presented. There were a couple of holes but they were somewhat minor but do in the end effect the final outcome. The story had enough layers and characters to keep you interested and trying to figure out how it all fits together but it wasn’t overly complicated.

My biggest problem with the movie was the last scene. It tried so hard to reinforce a point that it came off cheesy and overdone. It was not needed and seemed tacked on like they sat and watched the finished movie and thought the audience wouldn’t get it so they threw it on.

Edge of Darkness is worth a look but you don’t have to see it in the theatre. Big screen or small screen I don’t think it will make a difference in the viewing quality.

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