Review of film: “EDGE OF DARKNESS”

2010, 01-21:

Review of film:  “EDGE OF DARKNESS”

Director:

Martin Campbell

Writer:

William Monahan               (screenplay) and

Andrew Bovell                     (screenplay)

Starring:

Mel Gibson

Ray Winstone

Danny Huston

Bojana Novakovic

Shawn Roberts

David Aaron Baker

Jay O. Sanders

Denis O'Hare           

Damian Young

Caterina Scorsone

Frank Grillo

Wayne Duvall

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Gabrielle Popa

Paul Sparks

Christy Scott Cashman

Dossy Peabody

Gordon Peterson

Peter Epstein

Tom Kemp

Timothy Sawyer

MPAA Rating:

Rated R for strong bloody violence and language.

Quotes:

“Hi, Dad. I’m gonna come home for a few days.”

“I wish you had someone.”

“You don’t even know what I do…”

“What do you think I am?!”

“”Like, who shot your daughter…”

“I DON’T back down.”

“There’s a possible threat to the United States…”

“’Cause, I’m usually the guy that stops you--…”

“What’s it feel like?”

“You are out of your depth.”

“Everything’s illegal in Massachusetts.”

“I’m the guy with nothing to lose.”

“You had better decide whether you’re hanging on the cross, or bangin’ in the nails!”

“…  people who deserve better…”

MY Rating:

8.5 of 10 stars (per an advance screening of the 117-minute film, which was based on a BBC mini-series).

RIGHTEOUSNESS in the defense of --  WHAT exactly?!

The place is Boston…  Problems arise for Homicide Detective Thomas Craven (MEL GIBSON) when his only child Emma (BOJANA NOVAKOVIC) keeps feeling ill, & then is shot on the front porch as they leave his house… 

…  While others feel he was the real target, Mel thinks that wasn’t the case, & starts investigating the hidden life of his 24-year-old daughter (whose younger persona is played by GABRIELLE POPA)…

…  As he delves into the matter, he finds she was involved with corporate camouflage, governmental conspiracies and more…  He meets mysterious figure Darius Jedburgh (RAY WINSTONE), who’d been sent to HIDE the evidence of the collusions --  & the more Mel deals with him (over various meetings), the more involved & confused the situation becomes… 

…  WHO is Jedburgh really working “for”?!…  Is he a help or a hindrance in finding the truth?…

…  Mel’s superior on the Police force, Bill Whitehorse (JAY O. SANDERS), is very solicitous of Mel’s difficulties, as are others there…  But, Mel feels it best to research things on his OWN…  He was proud his daughter got an M.S. from M.I.T… 

…  But, she didn’t talk much about her new job for a shadowy company called Northmoor --  whose boss Jack Bennett (DANNY HUSTON) doesn’t care to DISCUSS precisely what they “do” or what her job was--  although he volunteers that, “All our people are very well INSURED…”

…  When Mel tracks down her boyfriend named Burnham (SHAWN ROBERTS), he’s deathly afraid of saying much --  tho he tries to help in “other” ways… 

…  Other friends (such as Melissa, played by CATERINA SCORSONE) are also fearful of talking to him, & it’s clear from “run-ins” that certain elements (such as Millroy, played by DAVID AARON BAKER) are trying to violently STOP his investigations…

…  There are numerous TWISTS & TURNS in the story line, with loads of attempts to “REMOVE” particular people deemed “dangerous” to those in “charge”…  Mel is typically dogged in his pursuit of facts…  At one point, he comments that, “My daughter was not a ‘joiner’.”… 

…  Why does he get a “dangerous” reading by a device in her home?...   Why is he told that “National security is the issue.”?… Who says that his girl was “flagged as a potential TERRORIST”, & why?…

…  Will secretly-made videos play an important part in reaching vital conclusions?…   Why is the term “jihadist” used by someone in the “know”?… 

…  What are the real roles of shadowy governmental operative Moore (DENIS O'HARE) and Senator Jim Pine (DAMIAN YOUNG)?…   Would most people “ACCEPT” or “BACK” their roles & what happens to them?…

…  As a friend commented, the film is “CLASSIC Mel” in a “tough”, unyielding role…  The periodic surprise “changes” in seeming facts are very WELL-handled, & the film ends with conclusions that are in some ways “SATISFYING” concerning many of the “principals” in the well-acted movie…

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