Edge of Darkness
(Warner Home Video, 128 minutes)
http://edge-of-darkness.warnerbros.com
When Mel Gibson as hardened cop Thomas Craven utters the words “I’ve got nothing left to lose,” he couldn’t have been more on point. After an eight year hiatus from a starring role in films, Gibson had something to prove Hollywood and himself. Despite achieving critical success from the Passion of the Christ, Gibson made headlines when his marriage disintegrated. Compounding matters further, with so many young stars and starlets on the rise, the once dominant actor was is in the unenviable position of proving that he still has what it takes to bring in the big bucks at the box office.
This perhaps explains why Edge of Darkness, a remake of a classic BBC series, strays from its quasi sci-fi roots and devolves into a simple revenge tale. In many ways it’s a smart move, as many of the ideas presented in the 1985 series would come off as hokey and confusing to today’s cinema goers. Gibson needed a role that allowed him to put a bit of himself into the role, for better or for worse because let’s face it; if you’ve followed the news in the last eight years, no one goes postal quite like Mel Gibson.
Staring as Thomas Craven, Gibson assumes the role once helmed by Bob Peck, a grizzled cop out for revenge against the men behind his daughter’s murder. While there is some conspiracy to be had, the film reveals the people responsible rather early, giving Gibson to go through the motions of reaffirming himself as an action star. While the original tended to lean more toward the inner workings of the government, filling each episode with political intrigue, the remake discards all that in favor of shoot outs and brutal brawls.
In truth, where Edge of Darkness lacks in story, Gibson more than makes up for it in his performance. Every scene he’s in, his agony is palpable as he homicidally blows through one suspect to another in his personal vendetta to avenge his daughter. Of course this means more emphasis on blood and action but there are enough heartfelt sequences of Craven reminiscing on happier times with his daughter peppered throughout to give the audience a breather in between kills.
Whether Edge of Darkness provides Gibson the vehicle needed to get back on track is still up in the air. Depending on who you ask, the answer varies. In any case, it can’t be denied that this is a return to form for the actor as he proves he’s still got the chops to be a leading man if Hollywood will let him.
Edge of Darkness - C+
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