Edge of Darkness
I can really see why this film has this title. For one, is place the film begins and two Mel Gibson’s portrayal of a man on the edge is one of his best recent performances.
From the trailer we’re able to work out that Gibson plays a police officer, Thomas Craven, whose daughter is shot. He then spends the rest of the film on a quest to avenge her death. Sounds straight forward until you watch it. I won’t ruin the plot for those who have not yet seen it, but the story touches on issues larger and more serious than they first appear. The structure of how the plot, however, only works well in places as Craven uncovers darker aspects to his daughter’s life and goverment cover ups to hide this from him.
The opening of the film starts as it means to go on: fast paced events that constantly reveal more information. Within the first 15 mintues of the film we see a bright and happy family unit shattered into darkness. At first I had thought his daughter would last a little longer than this, but soon realised that I worried for nothing as she is never fully absent from the film. She acts as the drive for her father to go on and she is never far from his mind, even manifesting as hallucinations.
However some aspects of the plots did seem, at times, a little hard to believe. When dealing with a narrative involving the governement it is always risky. It just doesn’t seem feasable to say that someone who is just a research intern can get their hands on top secret information. Unless it has been left as reading material in the lavatories, it is highly doubtful that someone of such low status could carry out this kind of mission. But that doesn’t mean the film doesn’t try and it does knid of work, in the context of the film at least.
The key thing to note here is that the somewhat meandering plotline is saved by Gibson’s outstanding performance. For fans of Mel Gibson this film is a must, but forgive the weakening narrative as Gibson does help redeem the film.
