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Not primarily interested in how civilized men fare when thrust into the wild, although obviously that theme is everywhere in this movie, so much as it is a movie about a great character in an unusual situation. Charles is such an interesting, sophisticated creation that one feels that writer David Mamet is almost in danger of falling in love with his character, but any such over-exuberance is saved by Anthony Hopkins's laconic performance. It borders on self-effacing at times, but that is rooted in a sense of false modesty and courtesy that Charles uses to encourage and get along with his companions, it never threatens the undercurrent of quiet competence and intelligence that defines the character. The Edge really boils down not to a basic survivalist tale, but a story of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Alaskan wilderness with a pocket knife instead of a lightsaber. It's pretty keen. 72

Le Top Ten, 1997
1. Event Horizon (P. Anderson)

2. L.A. Confidential (C. Hanson)

3. Wag the Dog (B. Levinson)

4. Donnie Brasco (M. Newell)

5. Face/Off (J. Woo)

6. Boogie Nights (P.T. Anderson)

7. Deconstructing Harry (W. Allen)

8. Fast, Cheap & Out of Control (E. Morris)

9. Breakdown (J. Mostow)

10. The Edge (L. Tamahori)

HOPKINS IS VERY GOOD. EXCITING TENSE STORY.

THE EDGE
(LEE TAMAHORI, 1997)
R
2 HOURS

This weekend the free public TV channels turned all gooey with teen-nostalgia-type films, like Karate Kid and Happy Gilmore. These two films are essentially the same. Vladimir Propp grimaces quietly in the ether... These films are not necessarily of the same "teen" era, but they have the same sort of feel, and it kinda makes you want to... (I was going to say "pick up your BMX" but I realised grown men make their living from doing that these days, so...) I flicked between the two, mostly preferring Happy Gilmore (because earlier that day I'd shot my lowest score at my local mashie course. Gimme a break!).

A film I'd never seen before, The Edge, turned my Friday night sour. Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin "star" in this total throwaway, along with a bear. The bear must've fired his agent after watching himself chasing down Hopkins in a fast-forwarded attempted geronticide that still couldn't generate excitement.

I'm not an Alec Baldwin fan. Even without this bias, I would've been hard-pressed to enjoy his portrayal as a good guy gone bad. Or bad guy gone good. It was hard to tell -- Baldwin is from that Woodenface School of Acting that produced emotionally choleric stars such as Harrison Ford. This is why Baldwin's best performance has to be in Team America...

All in all, a very lame story, and more crappy research: at one stage, they set off towards a mountain Hopkins has identified as being due north (by rubbing a needle on "silk" (really, his sleeve) and creating a compass), and they're all horrified when, many hours later, they find themselves back where they started, at the dead camp fire. Now, I know this has been known to happen to people who try to cross deserts without landmarks, but when you're aiming at a mountain? How stupid could they possibly be? Did they try it blindfolded? Oh, and the black guy gets it about a third of the way through the flick. I think the bear was the only one who was really committed to the film -- he stomped a log with total authority halfway through.

The Edge: 7/10

The Edge is a survival movie taking place in the cold Alaska mountains when a plane crashes, leaving billionaire Charlie Morse (Anthony Hopkins) along with his two companions, one named Bob, played by Alec Baldwin. Bob and Charlie actually become enemies of eachother when Charlie learns that Bob had actually been in an affair with his beautiful wife, played by Elle MacPhearson. However, the two men must settle their differences for the sole fact that they need eachother to survive. Unfortunately, they will have to overcome the rocky terrain, cold weather, and an angry grizzly bear who plays as the real nemesis of the film.

The bear must be the most intelligent one in Alaska as it chases, sneaks, and pretty much goes to any length to kill these men. The entire time I was thinking to myself, "why doesn't it just kill a moose or something?" The chase scenes are pretty ridiculous and the overall plot with the hole bear just got stupid toward the end. The conflict between Hopkins and Baldwin is pretty interesting, as they must trust eachother despite becoming enemies, but that doesn't save The Edge from being a fairly unexciting and repititive film.

.....

Made for TV probably, Baldwin can't sell it. Boring.

(***):

Easily the best Anthony Hopkins starring man vs. bear film ever made. Tense and thrilling with phenomenal cinematography and enough bear maulings to please your palate.

My roommate suggested this one-I kinda find it hard to believe, not that the film hasn't serious, or engageing, but something about it didn't sit right with me. It was probably the poor casting. let's face it, Alec Balwin is worthless, and just brought the whole movie down. Anthony Hopkins wasn't at his best, but I contribe this to shoddy writting.

Don't get your hope too high, but worth a peek if youre into a "survival" type movie:down: