Edge of Darkness

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An old school thriller that's more about story and character than car chases and action, Mel Gibson's first movie in nearly eight years is an engaging, if often overly-ponderous watch. Based on the BBC mini-series of the same name, Edge of Darkness has an awful lot of conspiracies and cover-ups to squeeze into two hours, and doesn't always succeed in cramming it all in. What it does do is give Gibson a solid character to get his teeth into, proving that whatever else you think of the man, he can still undeniably churn out a performance.

Gibson is a working Boston detective who is looking forward to his daughter returning home from work to stay with him for a while. However, soon after she arrives home, she is gunned down by a masked killer, who shouts "Craven" - their second name - before pulling the trigger. Assuming the bullet was meant for him, Gibson begins his own investigation that proves his daughter was in extremely deep with the ropey company she works for. If we've learnt nothing from cinematic excursions these past few years, should it not be to never trust Danny Huston?

Coming from Casino Royale director Campbell, Darkness is surprisingly light on the action, but heavy on the drama. Gibson's crusading cop has nothing to lose and is on a road of informative destruction. He ultimately wants to figure out exactly what happened, while avenging the untimely demise of his daughter. Through all of this there's a perplexing lack of fuzz about, despite the destructive manner he's obviously acting in - sure, the cops slapping him on the wrist and Gibson handing over his badge would've been clichéd, but at least it would make sense. There are also unaddressed issues, some of them hinted at, others inexplicably omitted (where's his wife?).

Ray Winstone offers formidable support and has undeniable presence, but his character is over-written with heavy, needlessly profound dialogue that doesn't give him room to breathe. You're also waiting for his reappearance as proceedings move towards a clunky conclusion, rendering the final few scenes slightly predictable.

Campbell's hard work behind the camera building tension, broken up with some surprisingly visceral violence and Gibson's welcome return to our screens, render this a mandatory DVD rental - but maybe not a must see cinematic one.