Edge of Darkness
Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Mel Gibson, Bojana Novakovic, Damian Young, Ray Winstone and Danny Huston
Releasing in cinemas: 4 February 2010
Rated: MA 15+
Mel, bringing light to the darkness
Edge
of Darkness is an updated reworking of the impressive TV series from
back in the 80's which starred Bob Peck and was directed by Martin Campbell
(Casino Royale); who also helms this version. Those remembering the original
will be interested to find it’s now set in Massachusetts rather
than England, and despite also carrying some other changes in the plot
and characters, remains faithful to the underlying story. Condensing five
hours of the TV series has resulted in a slick ‘bang-gotcha’
action thriller with less emphasis on the esoteric.
Thomas Craven
(Mel Gibson), single father and veteran homicide detective with the Boston
Police Department, is reunited with his 24 year-old daughter Emma (Bojana
Novakovic) only to have her suddenly brutally shot on his doorstep - the
belief being he was the real target for the killing.
But that’s not the case. Craven delves into his daughter’s
secret life as activist. Seems she’s discovered all is not kosher
in a privately operated research laboratory. Investigating a world of
dangerous political intrigue and ‘X files’ conspiracies, Craven
encounters sinister Darius Jedburgh (Ray Winstone) the government ‘clean
up’ man, unctuous Jack Bennet (Danny Huston) CEO of the research
facility, and a dubious US Senator (Damian Young). Things move to a high-powered
conclusion as Craven seeks retribution on the shadowy people responsible
for his daughter’s death.
Carrying much of the movie, Mel Gibson (The Patriot) is more
wrinkled now, and puts on his grumpy face as the devastated father figure.
He looks like a nuggetty little older bloke since his co-actors all seem
to be taller, but don’t be misled - that ‘Lethal Weapon’
guy isn’t far below the surface, still fearlessly chasing villains
and up for a bit of rough-and-tumble. And there’s plenty of
that, as the cast get decimated in a hail of bullets. Gibson glues the
picture together with his presence in most scenes, even though he lacks
something of that earlier youthful zest. As the older protagonist, he
manages a mellowed, emotionally-charged performance of suppressed anger.
Ray Winstone (The Departed), always a solid support, provides
the right element of devious threat. Australian Bojana Novakovic (Drag
Me To Hell) is only required early in the film and doesn’t remain
alive long enough to make much impression; but her short scene with Gibson
she handles well, as Craven demonstrates his underlying love and concern
for his daughter when she becomes suddenly ill.
Danny Huston (John Adams) does good service as the evasive head
of the research facility. Danny Huston's grandfather Walter Huston
(also father of John Huston the famous director) played in a 1943 film
called Edge of Darkness with a much different storyline
about Nazis behaving badly in Norway.
Martin Campbell’s direction remains tight with well-controlled action
sequences; after all he should know the story by now. Worthy of mention
is Stuart Baird’s razor-sharp editing of picture and sound which
gives dramatic impact to several shock cuts. I’ll guarantee at least
one you won’t see coming; and it’s a knockout. Phil Meheux’s
cinematography is smart as paint and the whole show has a professional
polish. With the action scenes timed to keep your interest at a high level,
there’s no risk of boredom.
References to ecology and contemporary concerns make the plot pertinent
to today’s audiences. Overall, this is a better than average dark
thriller with a sharp script, good casting, and Mel giving his best up
front, providing the picture with its necessary gut punch.
John Bale