Edge Of Darkness

"They don't make them like they used to". That's probably what I'd be saying if I'd ever actually seen the original BBC television show on which this film is based. But I haven't, so I can't. The film, on paper, reads slightly similar to Liam Neeson's revenge 'em up Taken in the fact that Mel Gibson decides to lay off the Jews for long enough to go a mission to find out why his daughter died on his doorstep. For the opening scenes as well the film seems like it is going to do this, with lots of effort going towards showing the love in the father daughter relationship. It does pick up though with the introduction of Ray Winstone as a shady character offering help or hindrance in some rather cagey, tense encounters. This is where the film does well, with conspiracy theories and philosophical tidbits thrown about with the tense stares and gruff voices. Unfortunately it also has Mel Gibson in it and he happily throws around lines such as "I'm just a man with nothing to lose" without a hint of irony. Which is why I'm quite keen to watch the BBC original now, with a little more subtlety and depth this would have been fascinating fare. But instead we've got a slightly more decrepit John McClane shooting his way out of a tense conspiracy thriller. A miss-fire.