News Bites: Could this be Mel Gibson's comeback?

- Posted by Rusty

Say what you will about Mel Gibson off-screen (and there’s a ton that could be said), he’s still one of my favorite on-screen players, and he does brink-of-madness intensity (ie, Ransom, Lethal Weapon) better than almost anyone. So, it’s a great kick to see him in this just-released trailer for Edge of Darkness (see it above). A new thriller from director Martin Campbell (The Mask of Zorro, Casino Royale with Daniel Craig), Gibson plays a father out to avenge his daughter’s murder, all the while uncovering the secrets of what might just be a widespread conspiracy. So, yeah, looks like a solid, twisty combo of Ransom and Taken, with Gibson back on the familiar, man-with-nothing-to-lose ground that first launched him to superstardom. I like this trailer—it looks like it’ll deliver plenty of plot shockers, and it’ll fit in nicely with the recent rush of gritty crime films like The Departed, Gone, Baby, Gone, and Liam Neeson’s Taken. Plus, it taps into that emotional pull of one father out for justice in the name of his child—if done right, this could be gripping storytelling. Director Campbell has a solid track-record with smart action films, so my hopes are high.

Could this put Gibson back on top, be his long-last cinematic comeback? Maybe. Either way, it’s good to see him back on the screen (he also has a comedy with Maverick co-star Jodie Foster out for next year). He might never gain back the public’s love, but he could certainly return to the top-notch acting turns that made me a fan to begin with. Catch Edge of Darkness in theaters on January 29, 2010.

Clip courtesy of Trailer Addict and Yahoo! Movies. [end of post]