Review: Edge of Darkness

Tom Kraven is a Boston Police detective and widower. Since his daughter graduated from college and found a decent job, he has not heard much from her. On the day she finally comes to visit, she seems to be ill, but before they can get to the hospital she is gunned down on his father's footsteps. As the investigation begins, all signs point to a disgruntled collar of Tom's, but he soon realizes that his daughter had become entwined in a conspiracy involving the company she has been interning for.

A remake of director Martin Campbell's British television mini-series of the same name, Campbell has imported the story across the pond to Massachusetts and has enlisted down-on-his-luck screen legend, Mel Gibson. Quite an obvious choice when one thinks about it. When it comes to righteous anger, no one does it better than old Mel. There is a ticking time bomb behind Mel's eyes that is truly frightening, yet he stays relatively calm throughout the whole investigation, a determination motivated by finding peace for his daughter, the only family he seemingly has left. Practically anyone can relate, the loss of a loved one, let alone a child, is instantly empathetic.

This quiet and waiting to explode variation of Mel Gibson is directly tied to another problem to the film. What was marketed as a fast paced action picture full of vengeance and payback was a whole lot slower, but effective, allowing a mystery to unfold to a conservative finale for an action flick. Mel Gibson was certainly not channelling Martin Riggs wholly, but digging deep to the silent depravity of Mad Max and well-directed melodrama of Tom Mullen (of Ransom) as well. With a script with a 50/50 shot at sounding cheesy, Mel delivers on some truly excellent lines.

Ray Winstone brings out a lot of the best in this movie. He is the exception to a lackluster supporting cast (one that even included Danny Huston). His character is a cliche, a spy used as a blunt instrument turned repentant when he faces his own mortality, yet Winstone's performance raises the bar and keeps it fresh. Like a predator, he seems poised to attack at any second keeping the audience at the edge of their seats. His mentoring ways and pearls of wisdom put Mel on this path, and Winstone's natural charm color him more of a sage than a puppet-master.

In the end, Edge of Darkness is not Mel Gibson's triumphant return, but it reminds us how great he has always been, personal issues aside. Campbell reiterates an effective thriller and mystery, but the comparisons to the original, namely being inferior to it, are inescapable.

7/10

Top 10 Heroes For a Comeback

John McLane, Indiana Jones, Rambo, Rocky. Old action heroes are blowing off the cobwebs of their greatest roles. They have met mixed reaction, but thus far I have enjoyed them. There is still some on the way like Van Damme and Lundgren returning to Universal Soldier. I would love to see more so I made a list of 10 heroes I want to blow off the cobwebs and go for a Round 2 with the original actors and continuity involved rather than rebooting/remaking the crap out of everything.

10. Topper Harley (Hot Shots series)
Who better to lampoon the comebacks of other action movies, than Charlie Sheen as Topper Harley, the greatest action hero spoof (at least in my opinion).

9. David Dunn (Unbreakable)
This movie is a way earlier than the rest, but I would really love to see this get a second chapter. Hell yeah, it has a high potential for failure, but there's no shame in trying (right?).

8. Goonies (Goonies)
All of the original actors have gone on to new things. Some have bailed on Hollywood, some are still struggling, and some are Josh Brolin. Still I think it would be interesting to see them return and go on another adventure. Kind of a City Slickers style mid life crisis spearheaded by Mikey. Maybe this time they can actually the giant squid.

7. Ashley J Williams (Evil Dead series)
If "Burn Notice" has taught me anything its that Bruce Campbell still kicks ass despite being older, pudgier, and possibly more cynical than he once was. But the Bruce is still full of wit and charm, and I think both if Raimi can get his crap together and direct something that isn't Spiderman or produce something that isn't a J-horror remake, they could make a great grassroots horror flick

6. Popeye Doyle (French Connection)
I hate to say it, but Gene Hackman seems to have fallen from grace. The guy isn't getting the high profile goods anymore although he has shined in some noteworthy indies (Royal Tenenbaums anyone). But to make it up to all of us for Welcome to Mooseport and Heartbreakers, he should beat the streets to see if anyones picking their feet in Poughkeepsie.

5. Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop series)
The third one sucked and Eddie Murphy hasn't done anything of any worth except for Dreamgirls which is already kind of forgotten. Murphy has kept in pretty incredibly shape it seems, and he could definitely make a comeback if they stick to the intensity and humor of the first one. That is be funny but take your self seriously, i.e. Not I, Spy.

4. Snake Plisken (Escape From.....)
Escape From Earth. That was the proposed title for a third Snake flick made by Russel and Carpenter. Why isn't this happening? The two of them arn't really doing anything. Carpenter in particular needs a hit after Ghosts of Mars and deserves one after making superior "Master of Horror" episodes.

3. Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry series)
I thought Gran Torino would be a Dirty Harry flick. Watching Gran Torino, it might as well have been Dirty Harry (except that he had kids and a love of his life). To think that Gran Torino is Eastwood's last acting gig, it is unfortunate that there is no more Dirty Harry

2. Roger Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)
Come on! Who doesn't? Who Framed Roger Rabbit is such a gem, and I still cannot believe they never made another one. In fact, a prequel was planned, with toons being draftedfor WWII and Roger meeting Jessica, who was a radio host who wasn't so HOT! But Spielberg had just done Schindler's List and did not want to comically villify the Nazis anymore. Hence no Indiana Jones until a Cold War error.

1. Max Rockatansky (Mad Max series)
The third one was not that great. But 1 and especially 2 were fantastic. Good old fashioned filmmaking. If only Mel would do it. He says he is too old, but he has done plenty of movies with at least mid-level action in it since Lethal Weapon 4 yet he keeps refering to LW4 as a "painful experience." Plus Fury Road is a badass title.