Merlin Miller: Edge of Darkness is an important and timely political thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Originally produced as a British mini-series, this story has been modernized and set in Boston. Director Martin Campbell, who helmed the original, as well as several recent hit films, including, Casino Royale, brilliantly executes with a cast and crew tailor made for their roles.
Mel Gibson Stars in "Edge of Darkness"
The story is about a veteran homicide detective, Thomas Craven, who must solve the murder of his own daughter, Emma (who dies in his arms), and the conspiracy that led to it. As Craven, Mel Gibson is back with a performance that reminds us why he is one of the all time greats. He hasn’t been in front of the camera since 2002’s Signs, but what a return this is! His powerful performance grabs and doesn’t let go. Even though his intense blue eyes have been intentionally muted with wardrobe and lighting to create a disheveled and distraught character appearance, he still captivates. As a widower, who has now lost his only child, Craven has but one goal left and that is to find and exact vengeance on her killers.
Initially believed to be the target himself, things don’t stack up for Craven and he discovers that his daughter led a life that he knew nothing about. Throughout the film, use of memory flashbacks of Emma as a little girl, and apparitions of her lost spirit, provide love connections, which are beautifully and hauntingly effective. The chemistry, between father and daughter, is wonderfully developed by Gibson and Serbian-Australian actress, Bojana Novakovic. As a nuclear physicist intern, Emma worked for an energy and research firm that held government contracts. She became aware of sinister efforts by her corporate employer (played with arrogant perversity by Danny Huston) to produce nuclear weapons that could be used and then blamed on Jihadists. This future “false flag” operation had the secret support of elements of our own government. Emma’s efforts to “do right” and protect our true national interests were betrayed by those she thought she could trust, including a US Senator.
As Craven investigates with increasing despair, he uncovers key parts of the conspiracy with the enigmatic assistance of a government clean-up agent (and assassin), Darius Jedburgh, wonderfully played by Ray Winston. Although his delivery was difficult to understand at times, Winston’s understated performance is central to the story and his scenes with Gibson are riveting. At one point, Jedburgh philosophically states to an inquiring Craven, “…you just never can connect A to B.” Craven responds “How do you know?” to which Jedburgh replies “Because I’m usually the guy that stops you from connecting A to B.” But Jedburgh is “terminal” (as he says “we all are”), and this takes him through a soul searching process, where he will ultimately be tested to either do his assigned job or do the right thing. This is a decision many of our government servants may be asking themselves today.
The themes of honoring family (Jedburgh regrets never having had one and Craven has devastatingly lost his) and protecting our freedoms are tightly woven into this story’s tapestry. A memorable and repeated line, “Everything’s illegal in Massachusetts”, speaks tellingly to current and historic patriots. And Craven’s threat to the Senator, “You had better decide whether you’re hangin’ on the Cross, or bangin’ in the nails,” speaks to our unfortunate loss of faith and increasing corruption.
One aspect of the film that may undercut its effectiveness was a dependency on the ultimate honor and integrity of the media. In sympathy for a female reporter, who showed respect and was less predatory than others, Craven sent her Emma’s secret discs, which revealed the conspiracy. If we still trust in the mainstream media, then it could be a satisfying ending. Unfortunately, trust in media today is justifiably even lower than trust in our politicians. But this reporter was local and working for a less controlled media, so perhaps truth can prevail. This truth dependency is somewhat reminiscent of “Three Days of the Condor” in which the Robert Redford character’s survival rests in the possible publication of his story in the New York Times. If we had our doubts then, what are we to think now?
The production credits for this revenge thriller are first rate, and give the film a realistic and gritty “film noir” quality. The camera flows smoothly, with visual intensity, and the editing and scoring keep us on an emotional roller coaster. With such a compelling script and top-notch performances, this film has broad commercial appeal, but also works on other important levels. With its truth-seeking attitude and yearning for traditional values, Edge of Darkness, is an uncertain journey through evil and darkness. And like Craven, Emma, and Jedburgh, we are left wondering if we, as a people and nation, can rediscover what is important and return to a world of light.
Merlin Miller (email him) is a motion picture producer/director and founder of Americana Pictures. A graduate of West Point and USC film school, he is building a quality alternative to Hollywood. His article, “Americana Pictures: Restoring the Dream” appeared in TOO in April, 2009.
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It is a great film had me on the edge of my seat.. I love this guy
Hooray for Mel! He’s one guy I’m willing to pay full price for a theater ticket to see his movies — especially since I can go knowing I”m not going to get a does of pc anti-White propaganda.
Avatar? Haven’t seen it. Never will.
Yea avatar is garbage ..
Mr. Gibson should do a movie about the U.S. Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism!
Mel is a great director, better than Spielberg could ever dream of being.
There is no such thing as anti-semitism it’s code for pro-white genocide
Mel has been victimized by the evildoers who control all of Hollywood and the mass media for their own propaganda purposes. The attacks against him only demonstrate their absolute control. Mel’s a true BraveHeart and has not (completely) caved in as yet – those who care about liberty and true justice should support him in every way possible!
The only problem with this movie is that is doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of those who are behind the false flags and who mislead and propagandize the American people for their own benefit.
What sort of movie would have to be made that would cause Jews to bitch and complain as they did over “Passion”? Edge of Darkness, no matter how good it is, doesn’t push the envelope. What might we be able to get away with in the movie business? How could we provoke and raise awareness about the threat to Western Civilization so that even the most clueless would be unable to ignore the truth?
Today we would just about have to create the political truth story but package it in a 3D animation and real live actors, action thriller in order to get the ticket buyers to hear our message.
The Avatar script sucked but the action and the uniqueness of the characters and the 3D stuff is what sold tickets. Now Hollywood can act like people approve of the message when really they just wanted to see something exciting and new in 3D.
Everything IS illegal in Massachusetts. Except going to see Edge of Darkness, at least for now.
“return to a world of light.”
I’m sorry, but I have no use for lines like that.
Was there ever a world of light?
I mean that as a serious, sincere question.
And even if there was one, we can never go back, ever.
Geez, not even God can change the past, or make us go back to it.
Why would we want to try?
To me this is the kind of sentimentality that gets us nowhere and we should be ruthless about rooting it out.
Hi,
Come On
Socco
You got me, I’m clicking thru.
The original series is available from Netflix. I’ve watched the first disc (3 episodes) and will be receiving the second disc tomorrow. So far, it’s not as great as I’d expected, given the awards it won. Gibson will definitely be a more interesting main character.
“I’m sorry, but I have no use for lines like that.
Was there ever a world of light?”
Look outside in the daytime.
Reginald says:
February 7, 2010 at 8:09 PM
“I’m sorry, but I have no use for lines like that.
Was there ever a world of light?”
Look outside in the daytime.
He was using it as a figure of speech and that is what I was responding to.
You are using it literally.
Silly person.
In the Edge of Darkness it was illustrative in that at the end the two (White) men who knew they were about to die did everything they could to kill everybody within their reach who they felt needed to killed. Let that be an example to every White man with a terminal disease. They could kill several, or even one, of the enemy. They’ll have little to lose, but much they could give to their race in the form of an example by doing this.
A World of light? Oh yes. Christ has risen, and beaten back Death and Night. It’s only those that prefer to stay in the dark, that hate the light, lest it bring truth where falsehood dwells. And, as the Church has proclaimed from the beginning, the war is already won. Satan lost. The rest is just a mopping up operation.
I plan to see this film, and am doing so a) to see Gibson act. I loved Signs. Funny, scary, and redemptive all in one film. I also hope that b) Mel is getting a percentage of the profits, so my ticked will fund his next flick, to stick it to the Deicides. How about a historical biopic of the father of St. Simon of Trent, (using Toaff’s Blood Passover as script material?) or the life of Ezra Pound, or the late Eustace Mullins? I’m willing to finance Gibson’s next foray into dealing with shining light into the Darkness, by buying a movie ticket. That’s why I waited to see Avatar for FREE…didn’t pay a RED cent for that ridiculous exercise in tree-hugging selbsthass White bashing. But Gibson, I’ll pay full price for. FIAT LUX!
Straight to the point and well written, tyvm for the post