Edge of Darkness is a generic title to an angry, violent and ultimately vulgar new film, starring Oscar-winner Mel Gibson. He plays a grieving father and Boston policeman trying to find the killer of his 20-something daughter.
Yes, his anger is righteous, but like most bad films, the good guys do little more than seek revenge, talk tough, and pile up the body count.
Edge Of Darkness is so convoluted it gave me tired head, meaning everyone is connected to each other in some worn-out fashion. Gee, do you think the government might even turn out to be evil? Gibson's character does, and director Martin Campbell pulls out all the cliches.
Edge Of Darkness is rated a shocking R for violence and is about as subtle as a car accident which happens a lot in this heavy-handed mess. Gibson is a fine actor, he even has a few thoughtful moments, but I left the theater wanting to go home and take a shower, just to get the Edge Of Darkness off of me.
LA DANSE (UNRATED)
La Danse is a terrific Oscar-caliber documentary from France about the Paris Opera Ballet, directed by one of the best, Frederick Wiseman.
The life of a ballet dancer in rehearsal is examined in full detail and the images captured on film are both mind-boggling and breathtaking.
Ballet lovers will be enthralled with Wiseman's authenticity and art house lovers will be entranced with the sheer athleticism of dance.
La Danse runs a bit long at just over two and a half hours, but it's also one of the best films ever made about the subject. Honest, even thrilling, run to the theater to see La Danse.
WHEN IN ROME (PG-13)
When in Rome continues the tradition of dumbed-down romantic comedies that arrive in January.
It's a painfully bad film starring Kristen Bell as Beth, a workaholic in Rome, attending her sister’s wedding.
So what does Beth do? She picks five coins out of a magic fountain, and instantly five men are smitten and follow her back to America, including a fitness freak played by, Dax Shepard.
One of the five men is played by the likable Josh Duhamel, but like most bad comedies, When in Rome becomes a cat-and-mouse game where bad things happen to good people. And yes, there are plenty of silly sight gags and pratfalls that strain to make this mess watchable.
When in Rome is rated a mild PG-13 and is directed with a sloppy sledgehammer by Mark Steven Johnson. He directed the dreadful Ghost Rider. His latest scrapes the bottom of the romantic barrel by frustrating the audience with stupidity rather than just letting these two likable people meet and get along. I like both actors, but I wouldn't watch this film at 3 a.m. on the Lifetime network.
Source:king5.com/
