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Mel Gibson Edge of Darkness | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People

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I’ve Seen The Passion 34 Times! / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | February 20, 2009 | Comments (22)

Who’s excited about seeing America’s favorite anti-Semite — the cuddly, adorable, huggalicious Mel Gibson back on film? After a six-year hiatus in front of the camera, in which Gibson spent some directing Jesus porn, hanging out in rehab facilities, and denying the Holocaust, Gibson will return to the big-screen in The Edge of Darkness, the latest crime thriller set in Boston. Because, obviously, the only children in the country who are killed or abducted are in Boston. It’s the corollary to The Curse of the Bambino — once the Red Sox won the World Series, Boston children became seven-times more susceptible to cinematic crime. I saw it on Wikipedia. Of course, it could be that South Boston is one of the few safe havens for Mel Gibson in this country, although I bet the man didn’t step foot in Brookline (my “if money didn’t matter” dream city. Challah!)

Anyway, the movie — based on a BBC miniseries which was undoubtedly much better, if only for the lack of Gibson — is about a Boston homicide detective whose child is murdered on the front steps of his home. In the midst of his investigation, he finds out his dead daughter was involved in a corporate cover-up. William Monahan (Departed) wrote the screenplay. Warner Brothers just picked up the film, which is currently in post-production. It also stars Ray Winston, Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts, and a bunch of people you’ve never heard of who really needed a paycheck. Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, The Mask of Zorro) directed. Coincidentally, he also directed the miniseries.

Clearly, Gibson didn’t get the memo on career rehabilitation. You must first star in a Ben Stiller comedy — it’s penance, man. Although, it is interesting to note that Mel Gibson was basically responsible for Robert Downey’s eventual comeback — Gibson cast him in The Singing Detective when no other insurance company would back him. That led to a series of other roles, which eventually got him to Iron Man. I’m a little (pleasantly) surprised that Downey hasn’t thrown Gibson a bone out of simply loyalty.


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Comments

WTF?? And, Dustin, SERIOUSLY, please tell me you are kidding about The Passion . Holy crap, that is more torture than Mel put his Jeebus thru!!

Posted by: dammitjanet at February 20, 2009 10:15 AM

It's from South Park. Dustin didn't see Passions 34 times.

Posted by: Lucas at February 20, 2009 10:21 AM

Challah? LOL

Posted by: Sarah at February 20, 2009 10:25 AM

I live in Somerville, but Brookline is pretty sweet. I'm afraid to go to Southie, and I'm a life-long Masshole. Ha.

Posted by: Abazur at February 20, 2009 10:29 AM

Oh HELL no he di'nt!

This crazy bastard better step away from pissing all over Edge of Darkness!

based on a BBC miniseries which was undoubtedly much better, if only for the lack of Gibson

Oh, it was good for a lot more reasons than that, trust me. In fact, it was very good. Anybody else here seen it, so they can back me up?

Posted by: Tarn at February 20, 2009 10:29 AM

I've heard that watching Passion will turn any atheist into a Christian. While I want to watch it just to prove everyone wrong (I figure it'll produce more atheists than reading the Bible), I'm not a fan of gory movies. Plus there's that whole thing about Mel Gibson being a douche bag.

Posted by: Quincy at February 20, 2009 10:33 AM

Studio films are only ever set in four locations: Boston, New York, Los Angeles and "Somewhere European Where the Locals Speak Heavily Accented English".

Unless it's a period drama, and then the Austen Corallary kicks in. In those cases, the film in question is set in England.

Posted by: Clee Shay at February 20, 2009 10:33 AM

Corollary. It's early on the west coast.

Posted by: Clee Shay at February 20, 2009 10:35 AM

Ok, whew! I was worried about ya there, little buddy!!

Posted by: dammitjanet at February 20, 2009 10:54 AM

Edge of Darkness, the original, was amazing. That's my mental footnote, anyway. The one part of it that still sticks vividly in my mind is Joe Don Baker's crazed CIA agent walking into a corporate meeting with bricks of plutonium in his bare hands.

Posted by: nailgod at February 20, 2009 11:00 AM

Actually, we didn't get very many movies in Boston until they created tax incentives in like...2005 or something, and then we got a barrage of crap here once they upped the incentives in '07. Before that they'd do like 2 scenes in Boston and then finish it off in NY or LA.

You know where Mel did show up? Foodies Urban Market in the South End (different from Southie). It's where I get groceries!

Brookline? It's basically just a gigantic dorm.

Posted by: HB at February 20, 2009 11:03 AM

To back you up, Abazur,

The Edge of Darkness was one of the best mini series I have ever seen. Me and me Dad watched it when I was young, on TV.

One of the most depressing endings I have ever seen.

I'm actually very pleased with thesame director, that may save Americanization..

And I'm one of the three fans left in the world of Mel, so I don't mind him..

Posted by: magiel at February 20, 2009 11:18 AM

Studio films are only ever set in four locations: Boston, New York, Los Angeles and "Somewhere European Where the Locals Speak Heavily Accented English".

Unless it's a period drama, and then the Austen Corallary kicks in. In those cases, the film in question is set in England.

Posted by: Clee Shay at February 20, 2009 10:33 AM
---
You forgot one, Clee: Rubetown, the place where all the locals are "quirky" and charming and speak with funny accents and eventually win over the snob from the big city. Could be Punxsutawney, could be New Ulm. Could be anywhere that isn't Boston, NYC or L.A. It IS everywhere that isn't Boston, NYC or L.A., as far as H-wood is concerned.

Posted by: bucdaddy at February 20, 2009 11:18 AM

Is this why Mel's growing that Ye Olde Timey Villain 'stache? The one that makes him look like he's about to tie some bimbo to the train tracks while he twiddles his mustache and his cape blows in the wind?

I hate Mel Gibson, but I have to admit that that's some rockin' facial hair.

Posted by: figgy at February 20, 2009 12:08 PM

So true, bucdaddy. So true. Everything between the two coasts is a vast, incestuous wilderness, according to Studio People.

Which reminds me, I'm running late and I've still got some fruit to can and some socks to darn before I run barefooted down to the church house and marry my cousin.

Yeehaw!

Posted by: Clee Shay at February 20, 2009 12:43 PM

And he'll be wearing wicked awesome kilt.

Posted by: admin at February 20, 2009 1:14 PM

A really sweet junior in my acting class last semester was an extra in this movie, and when she told me I was so excited for her I offered to see it as soon as it came out. "Who was in it?" I asked, my eyes shining in youthful admiration and awe, not being able to believe a girl from our tiny school was in a big hollywood movie! "Mel Gibson!" She replied, and the glow on my face faded, hope was lost, the easter bunny was just my parents, and the plants were making humans kill themselves because of pollution.
I at least know what scene she was in, so I can just youtube it in a year or two.

Posted by: Erin S at February 20, 2009 2:33 PM

Mel Gibson is one of the assholeist guys in Hollywood, unfortunately, it seems he's heading into a good film. The fucker doesn't deserve it.

Posted by: George at February 20, 2009 7:32 PM

LOL. I saw his personal ad with many photos at a super model site named ---Richromances.com---. He looks great over there

Posted by: lawrence at February 21, 2009 9:40 AM

Wow, this lawrence guy sure is pushing the male romances on us lately.
Also, Mel's on a supermodel site? With that facial hair? Colour me a shade of perplexed.

Posted by: popejenn at February 21, 2009 12:47 PM

Well there are a few good movies set in Texas that aren't about people from Texas wearing big hats and talking funny, but they're almost all made by people from Texas unless they're about real events that happened in Texas (The Right Stuff and Breast Men spring to mind). Sometimes, hilariously (in the case of The Chase for instance), they use Texas to double for California or somewhere else. Which just seems odd. Why come all this way from California, which could double for almost anywhere on the planet let alone itself, only to have Texas double for California?

Posted by: Eep at February 22, 2009 10:28 AM

Howdy. I had a scene with Mel in "Edge" and have to say, although the tabloid shit had made me leery, he was a decent guy, very professional and did good work. AWESOME script by Monahan, and the Joe Don Baker role is now taken by Ray Winstone, who's pretty damn great hisself.

Posted by: S at March 5, 2009 3:41 PM





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