Sunday, January 31, 2010
A+E, Movies, Reviews

‘Edge of Darkness’ a decent revenge thriller

 

“Edge of Darkness” should be remembered for its prescience in having as a major supporting character a Republican senator from Massachusetts—something virtually unthinkable weeks before the film’s release.

 Otherwise, “Edge of Darkness” is a decent thriller that returns Mel Gibson to the screen in yet another variation on his “Lethal Weapon” character, but not as funny or manic. He’s Boston homicide detective Tom Craven, who doesn’t see enough of his “little girl” Emma (Bojana Novakovic), who’s now 24.

Tom’s elated when she comes to see him, until a drive-by shooting cuts Emma’s visit—and her life—short. At first it’s thought Tom was the intended victim, until he starts looking into Emma’s job at Northmoor, a shady nuclear facility run by Jack Bennett (Danny Huston). Emma’s boyfriend reveals she may have been involved with an anti-nuke activist group, Nightflower.

Ray Winstone plays Jedburgh, a self-described “security consultant” who makes problems like Craven go away. Everyone is justifiably paranoid because they’re under constant surveillance, so why would someone kill Emma in front of her dad? Haven’t they ever seen a Mel Gibson movie?

Aside from the shooting, there’s zero action in the first half-hour, which is mostly devoted to Tom’s grief, but it doesn’t make the intended emotional connection. After that there are several bursts of violence, but the film doesn’t flow as well as it might, with most scenes revealing too much or too little. You’re never sure if you know something or only think you know it.

Director Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale”) also helmed the original BBC miniseries “Edge of Darkness,” which probably seemed more fresh in 1985, before recent conspiracy and revenge scenarios like “State of Play” and “Taken.” 2.5 STARS—Steve Warren