Reviewed by GREG KING
Director: Martin Campbell
Stars: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Bojana Novakovic, Dennis O’Hare.
Like last year’s tense thriller State Of Play, Edge Of Darkness is a Hollywood treatment of a BBC miniseries. Adapted from the 1985 miniseries, Edge Of Darkness is a gripping thriller about corporate greed, murder, revenge, conspiracy in high places, corruption and abuse of power and dangerous government secrets.
Returning to the screen for the first time in six years, Mel Gibson plays seasoned Boston homicide detective Thomas Carver. His estranged daughter (Australian actress Bojana Novakovic, recently seen in Drag Me To Hell) comes home for a brief stay. But before Thomas can reconnect, she is gunned down in front of his house. At first it is assumed that he was the target and that the killer missed.
But as Carver digs into the circumstances surrounding her death he uncovers a conspiracy at high levels. The search leads him to Northmoor, a multi-national conglomerate, and its slimy CEO Jack Bennett (Danny Huston), who is trading nuclear weapons with foreign powers. Craven receives some assistance from Jedburgh (Ray Winstone), an enigmatic former CIA agent who specialises in cleaning up messy security problems.
This marks Gibson’s first acting role since 2002’s Signs, and his role here as the world weary, angry cop seeking justice for his murdered daughter seems tailor made for him. His take on the character differs from Bob Peck’s portrayal in the original, but his haunting and emotionally charged performance makes this more than just another formulaic vigilante flick. Winstone lends his intimidating presence to his role as the shadowy government fixer, a role originally intended for Robert De Niro. His cryptic exchanges with Craven fairly crackle with menace. Huston is suitably sleazy as the greedy corporate boss with secrets to protect.
The script has been written by William Monahan (The Departed, etc) and Australian Andrew Bovell (Lantana, Blessed, etc). In paring down the five hour original to two hours, many of the intricate subplots and character details have been dropped. Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, etc) directed the original and is familiar with the material. He knows what to pare back, and he cuts back some of the padding of the original. Campbell turns this into a straight forward, compelling, brutal and gratuitously violent thriller, which is directed with ruthless efficiency. The action scenes are well staged.
Audiences familiar with the original series may be a little disappointed by this remake; however, those unfamiliar with the source material will find Edge Of Darkness quite involving.
***