Brilliant and touching

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I won't say anything about the plot except that it's centered around an "everyman" who goes on a revenge odyssey. In that respect it reminds me of the excellent "Harry Brown" released a year eariler with Michael Caine packing some artillery. But Edge of Darkness differs from the rest with its interesting layered story.As "Tom Craven" (Mel Gibson) peels away the truth, so we also get wrapped up in the complexity of this story which touches on political thriller, tenuous loyalties, and--most intriguing--a mysterious character "Jedburgh" (Ray Winstone) who sips whiskey and smokes cigars with our hero, but (as our hero is fully aware) could at any minute put a bullet through his head.And what's the point of all this madness? The point, or subtle theme underneath all the rollercoaster action, is that each individual must make his or her own choice to act independently. That sentence may not make much sense to you reading it in a review, but trust me it's what drives this story. Returning back to what I said about politics and tenuous loyalties, this story is about reaching that point where you break from the predictable and act on your own. Or as a memorable line in the film goes, "you had better decide whether you're hanging on the cross, or banging in the nails."

It's okay. An evening's mindless entertainment, nothing particularly original and not a patch on the original British 'Edge of Darkness' series. Swim through broken glass to find it. An extraordinarily fine and original piece with all the elements--fabulous script, wonderful acting (especially Bob Peck's compelling and understated Ronnie Craven) and Joanne Whalley as Emma and wonderful Joe Don Baker as Jedburgh; master score by Eric Clapton...etc etc.......all spun together brilliantly by Martin Campbell....who for some reason has returned to try to bring some class to this tired American remake. Why?

Thomas Craven is a Boston detective who's only child, his daughter Emma, is gunned down and dies in his arms in the opening minutes. He, along with everybody else, naturally assumes that he was the real target but the more he learns about his daughter's life the more obvious it becomes that she was involved with some very dangerous people. She worked at Northmoor, an independent defence research and development company which she discovered was involved in some very illegal activities. Three people she helped access the facility turned up dead and irradiated and it turns out she too is radioactive. As Craven looks into her life he learns that those who knew her are very scared, and rightly so… whatever Emma discovered Northmoor will go to any length to keep secret.This film is a solid enough thriller with plenty of action and a decent story… the problem is that anybody who watched the original BBC miniseries is sure to find this weak by comparison; not surprising given that six hours of material have been cut down to two. On the plus side all of the significant characters have changed significantly so I didn't find myself comparing them too much. The main cast are pretty good; Mel Gibson is believable as Craven and Ray Winstone impresses as Jedbugh, a somewhat menacing fixer whose loyalties are far from obvious. As the story approaches its conclusion there aren't too many surprises; the ending is effective without being anything too special. Overall I'd say this is worth watching if you are a fan of Mel Gibson or fancy watching a decent thriller that will pass a couple of hours… however if you want a superior version with more interesting characters and a deeper story then watched the original mini-series.

Yes folks, I am truly, deeply, madly in love with this feature that I watched for the first time back in 2010, the very day of its release. I watched it again yesterday and I was more astonished than the first time I saw it. I won't say it is a masterpiece, but it is one of my favourites ever. Mel Gibson is here at his best, giving us some poignant, gripping sequences. A very real dark tale not for all the audiences, for sure. And don't forget the truly awesome Ray Winstone who also gives here an outstanding, terrific, performance as a ghost, shadow killer for the government, the keeper of the National Security against a private company who f...up concerning a classified files. His character is very very interesting. No good or evil either. Actually, you can't exactly define who he really is. He is somewhere ambivalent, and why not poignant too. The face to face between him and Gibson is unforgettable. An offbeat movie, very dark and depressing. I am in love with this film.