Retro Film Review: The Edge (1997)

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The respected and critically acclaimed actors usually aren't those who are able to bring mega-crowds to theatres based on their name being on film posters. Even Anthony Hopkins, one of the rare "serious" actors who had bridged the chasm between critical respect and mass popularity (thanks to his iconic role in The Silence of the Lambs), had limited choice of roles - he appeared either as protagonist in "serious" Oscar contending dramas or omni-present supporting character in blockbusters. Just like Richard Burton and Meryl Streep, Hopkins had to wait for opportunity to prove himself as capable of carrying action-packed film. That opportunity came with The Edge, 1997 adventure film directed by Lee Tamahori.

In this film Hopkins plays Charles Morse, billionaire who accompanies his beautiful fashion model wife Mickey (played by Elle Macpherson) to photo shoot in Alaska. Despite his enormous wealth, Charles is not a fun-loving man and for him the best entertainment is reading books and memorising all kinds of seemingly useless information. Charles is aware that his popularity has more to do with his money than personal charm, and that includes Mickey who seems to be too close to her photographer Robert Green (played by Alec Baldwin). When Robert decides to scout perfect shooting locations by plane, he invites Charles to join him on the flight. Charles agrees and later the plane hits the flock of geese, crashes, kills pilot and leaves Charles, Robert and Robert's assistant Stephen (played by Harold Perrineau) stranded in the middle of wilderness, without food, shelter, medicine and any way to contact the outside world. Luckily, Charles has read books about outdoors survival and is willing to put that knowledge to good use. His efforts are, however, thwarted by huge Kodiak bear that had developed taste for human flesh and wants to kill the surviving trio.

Outdoors adventure like The Edge seemed like the odd choice for David Mamet, playwright best known for gritty urban dramas. Mamet nevertheless handled it very well, making the story intelligent, convincing and the characters believable. Hopkins plays the character very well, knowing that the audience can't accept any of his character's superhuman ability other than intelligence. The film also features a surprise - the most spectacular showdown happens long before the ending. New Zealand's director Lee Tamahori directs action scenes with great skill and Canadian locations are put to good use by his cinematographer Donald McAlpine. Film makers were also fortunate to have Bart, huge bear with some acting experience (in Jean-Jacques Annaud's The Bear made few years earlier), at their disposal - the gentle giant is carefully manipulated into looking like one of the deadliest and most menacing beasts ever to appear on screen. Bart's presence in the film humbles even Spielberg's dinosaurs in comparison. On the other hand, The Edge could have been even sharper with more careful casting - machistic Alec Baldwin is too much of a contrast with quiet, cerebral Hopkins, while Elle Macpherson (who made such great impression in Duigan's Sirens few years earlier) looks wasted, lacking any chemistry with both Baldwin and Hopkins. Despite those flaws, The Edge not only proves that "serious" actors, under right conditions, can at times be good action stars, but also gives solid two hours of entertainment which doesn't insults viewer's intelligence.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on February 2nd 2004)