2010 may just be Mel Gibson’s comeback year. Since his little outburst a few years ago he has been entirely absent. Apart from his unfortunate anti-Semitic outburst and his bizarre Mayan epic Apocalypto, Gibson has been lying low, and Edge of Darkness marks an impressive, if somewhat surprising, return to form.
After detective Tom Craven (Gibson) witnesses his daughter’s murder firsthand, he embarks on a personal mission to find her killer. Seemingly endless ridiculous plot twists pile on top of an otherwise generic anti-corporate screenplay, but Gibson’s mesmerizing performance renders the film totally enjoyable. As vengeance-minded Craven, his psyche slowly unravels, ratcheting up the tension in the process. He is haunted by visions of his Despite some unevenness throughout and a largely unoriginal story, this thriller is somewhat salvaged by its headliner, whose return to the big screen proves that beneath all of the bizarre antics, there may still be a movie star.
3 stars
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone
Rated R, 117 min.
