Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: www.backseatcuddler.com Mel Gibson carries a lethal weapon in "The Edge of Darkness."

The last time we saw Mel Gibson in a major acting role was in 2002. He starred in M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs," and since then, he has directed both, "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto," grown a wicked Col, Sanders beard and been at the center of some personally, unpleasant controversies. This year, with "The Edge of Darkness," Gibson steps back into the limelight to prove that like a fine wine, he is just getting better with age.

"The Edge of Darkness" is directed by Martin Campbell, who also directed "Casino Royale" and is due to direct "The Green Lantern." Gibson plays Boston homicide detective Thomas Kraven, whose daughter Emma (Bojana Novakovic) is brutally murdered at his doorstep, while back home visiting.

This film is a truly an unexpected delight. It takes you for a wild ride, as you literally feel like you are being tossed back and forth constantly, not only by the intriguing storyline but by the way the film tugs at your heart.

Right off the bat, I was very surprised by the way the film did not shy away from depicting, quite graphically and accurately, the brutal murder of Emma. This is one of the ways the film shifts rapidly from one emotion to the other. You are in the theater and you know that she is going to be killed, yet you get so caught up in the paternal chemistry and bond that Gibson and Novakovic create, that the experience and suddenness of her murder is jolting.

This is the great contrast that the film gently and masterfully balances. On one hand, you have the endearing, heartfelt struggle of the father moving on and grieving his daughter. Then, on the other hand, you have the angered, violent individual who is desperately seeking to do right by her.

As if that was not enough, the film also delves into a larger storyline as Detective Kraven begins to uncover the conspiracy that lies behind his daughters' death. Emma worked for a research company that is secretly hired by the government and she may have stumbled upon some information that would be very damaging to the government if it was released. As Detective Kraven attempts to put the pieces together, he is approached by a mysterious man named Jedburgh (Ray Winstone), who is hired by the corporation to fix situations just like this one.

Detective Kraven opens up a "Pandora's box" that leads to more murders and some major danger to his own life. It turns out to be a classic tale of "David versus Goliath," in this case, however, Detective Kraven is David and a corrupt government corporation is Goliath.

If you go see this film, expect a great story with incredible acting and some edge-of-your-seat suspense. Hopefully, you will have some appreciation for the subtle way in which it is all delivered. Unlike other films, which fail to accommodate the heart and the mind, this film does both, resulting in a fulfilling movie-going experience.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools