{"id":3826,"date":"2021-10-04T23:37:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T23:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=3826"},"modified":"2023-01-22T22:18:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-22T22:18:17","slug":"film-edge-of-darkness-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=3826","title":{"rendered":"FiLM REViEW: Edge of Darkness, 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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One of Mel Gibson\u2019s favourite, or at least most common roles, is the self-righteous and enraged everyman, wronged and out for truth and vengeance. He\u2019s so macho he steamrollers over all politesse and BS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airdrop him into a high level conspiracy and, well\u2026 it\u2019s all a load of convoluted bollocks, frankly. In terms of believability the plot here is fairly preposterous.* But in terms of the fun we might have, watching Mel G punch his way through concrete? That\u2019s, possibly, another matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The film starts with with Craven, Gibson\u2019s character, meeting his near as damn it estranged daughter, at the airport. A cop, Craven is unhappily married to the badge, and lives alone. He takes hisdaughter, clearly ill, is pallid, vomiting regularly, and clearly troubled in mind. Just when we think she\u2019s going to open up about what\u2019s ailing her, she\u2019s blown away, on the doorstep of Pop\u2019s home. It\u2019s assumed this is an attempt to kill Craven, gone wrong. But is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not a fan of Ray Winstone, or \u2018Wockney cankers\u2019 in general. His presence here put me off watching this on several occasions. His role is to be the Yin to Gibson\u2019s Yang, the devil to his angel. Mind if devils and angels are essentially the same, and basically just hitmen\/butchers\u2026 hmmm!?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, in typical US casting style, Brits, posh or working class, are almost always \u2018baddies\u2019. There\u2019s an almost hilarious twist here though, as Jdward\u2026 er, sorry \u2026Jedburgh (Winstone) is a faux-mystic\/intellectual assassin, who likes cigars and quoting poetry – what class! – and other \u2018eyebrow\u2019 literature. But, surprise surprise, he\u2019s at his most eloquently candid when he says is with bullets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A slightly odd supernatural\/spiritual thread runs through the film, also connecting Gibson\u2019s and Winstone\u2019s characters. But the unifying theme underneath all of it, is death. America loves death. This film loves death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it any good? Myaah\u2026 is it enough fun to warrant watching? Just about. Hardly a hearty recommendation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* Mind you, if we all knew the horror of what really goes on in the corridors of power it might make the most insane plots seem entirely plausible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of Mel Gibson\u2019s favourite, or at least most common roles, is the self-righteous and enraged everyman, wronged and out for truth and vengeance. He\u2019s so macho he steamrollers over all politesse and BS. Airdrop him into a high level conspiracy and, well\u2026 it\u2019s all a load of convoluted bollocks, frankly. In terms of believability … <\/p>\n

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