By: Holley Sinn

Verdict:  Approved

Mel Gibson plays revenge and conspiracy theory well...there's no doubt about that.  The challenge for "Edge of Darkness" from the beginning was to provide him with something new...a fresh approach to what could have been a stale, uninspiring plot, reminiscent of plenty of films that have gone before.  However, this one kept me interested, in large part because Mel's dedication to his character, but also because I was never entirely sure I understood what was going on. 

Mel plays Thomas Craven, a Boston cop whose daughter is shot in front of him on his doorstep.  His obvious assumption is that the bullet was meant for himself, but upon further investigation, it becomes clear that his daughter, Emma, was involved in some high security, classified activity surrounding her job as a nuclear engineering research assistant. 

A group of young people turn up dead in the waters near the nuclear facility at about the same time as Emma's death, and as informants slowly muster the courage to share what they know with Craven, they too meet their demise.  The twist comes when an assassin named Jedburgh, played by Ray Winstone, introduces himself the Craven and begins serving the dual role of both potential threat and guardian angel.  This government hiree is experiencing some internal struggles of his own, but the two things that unites the men are their love of children and their recognition that the nuclear company's dealings are not noble and potentially, illegal.

Regardless of what one thinks of Mel Gibson as a person, this is a pretty dynamite performance.  As is the case with all of his roles, he is committed, start to finish, to bringing a real flesh-and-bone, deep personal understanding to his character.  Ray Winstone is also superb as the wise-cracking Jedburgh and Danny Huston is effectively weasley and wimpy as the head of the nuclear company, Northmoor.   

The plot is a little convoluted, but that certainly adds to the suspension of disbelief factor, and the question as to who is necessarily good or bad is never totally resolved.  I'm approving "Edge of Darkness", but it should be noted that this is a pretty graphic and shocking "R" film, so leave the kiddos at home with the sitter!