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As homicide detective Thomas Craven investigates the death of his activist daughter, he uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence.
Mel Gibson: Thomas Craven
The director of GoldenEye and Casino Royale. Directed by
Martin Campbell, William Monahan and Andrew Bovell worked on the screenplay,
taking the screenplay from Mou gaan dou(Infernal Affairs) and adapting it to The Departed. With all of this talent it's safe to assume a competent job, but the title is such an obvious prelude to a slog of a journey.
While visiting her father, Emma Craven (Bojana Novakovic) is shot. As the only witness and one of Boston's finest, Tom Craven (Mel Gibson) goes to work as the daddy of revenge. Meanwhile, the culprits enlist the help of the mysterious Jedburgh (Ray Winstone) to keep the damaged Tom from unraveling the grander scheme. The result: the requisite game of cat and mouse, which almost doubles as the James Bond script Mel Gibson was never offered.
It's good to find a story that has carnage and mayhem that doesn't seem to be implemented with an iron CGI fist. Edge of Darkness can be thrilling at times but it's so slow. When it comes to gun violence or vehicular homicide, director Martin Campbell takes it into more thinking and conspiracy and Boston accents that make you want subtitles.
The roles in the film opt for believability from us; We are supposed to believe that Tom Craven is a veteran detective. I don't know how he could have solved anything to earn his tenure when on this case we see him stumble randomly into clues. Shaft or Chinatown Jack he is not. The most obvious clue is in his face for so long that he's either lost focus or Campbell wants the audience to do the same.
To its credit, Edge of Darkness does mix together some grand segments. What felt like a laughable ode to Star Wars gains a much-needed explanation later in the film. Ray Winstone is the scene-stealer, though there were plenty of times where his script must had told him to speak inaudibly. Every instance involving a moving car is golden.
Unfortunately, thrillers need twists and Edge of Darkness gives no surprises to it's own adoration. We know early on that Tom Craven (Mel Gibson) is going to lose his daughter. The only way that would come as a surprise to you is if you avoided every detail.
The story has been around far too long and it gets retold each year. Edge of Darkness is mostly enjoyable because it works the angle of tried and tested film; it has around 30 years of R&D going for it. What a great shame that new ideas can go through the pipeline so seldom these days.
4/10
