The Edge (Widescreen Edition)

The Edge (Widescreen Edition) Review

"The Edge" is a story about a billionaire and two other men stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. Part character study, part adventure,I think this film works on both levels. Anthony Hopkins, who I rarely find sympathetic, is very touching as the rich husband of a beautiful model played by "beautiful model", Elle Macpherson. Alec Baldwin, co-stars as Macpherson's secret lover and a fellow wilderness refugee with Hopkins. Baldwin gets to play himself (my opinion), charming and funny on the surface, but who's true character is selfish and dangerously hateful.

The location shooting is breathtaking and the supporting cast give wonderful support, most notably (among the human actors), L.Q. Jones is dead on target as the lodge manager and "would be" entrepreneur. However, the true star of the film is Bart the Bear, playing(?) a man eating Grizzly bear relentlessly focused on making a meal of the stranded airplane survivors. To those of you not familar with this legendary animal actor, Bart had significant roles in "White Fang, among other adventure films, and a career making performance as the lead in "The Bear". He is absolutely on top of his game as the pursuer of our air crash survivors. The film makers actually thank Bart and his trainer in the ending credits for making the film a reality. In an industry where getting billing and credit is everything, that little thank you is saying a whole lot about a miracle animal actor. This was Bart's last film, he died, too young, after the making of "The Edge".

"The Edge" is a serious work by a top writer, David Mamet, and a good film, made by professionals. The blu-ray edition makes the Alaskan wilderness look all the more beautiful and big. I found the film highly entertaining and a fitting final contribution by one extraordinary bear.

The Edge (Widescreen Edition) Overview

A plane crash in the freezing Alaskan wilderness pits intellectual billionaire Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) against self-satisfied fashion photographer Robert Green (Alec Baldwin) in a brutal struggle for survival. Each soon discovers that the greatest danger resides not in nature, but from human fear, treachery, and quite possibly murder.

The Edge (Widescreen Edition) Specifications

Writer David Mamet created two engrossing and memorable characters, played by Alec Baldwin as the urbane fashion photographer and Anthony Hopkins as a reserved and intellectual billionaire. They find themselves teamed up against a giant Kodiak bear, and their own inner demons, when lost together in the Alaskan wilderness. There is a lot going on in this picture, as the subject matter includes male rivalry, the isolationism of extreme wealth, and, most conspicuously, the survival of the fittest. Mamet's script, which sounds a little too arch in spots, is well served by New Zealand director Lee Tamahori, who knows how to capture beauty and brutality in one frame. Although the themes are enormous in scope, they are well balanced. One rarely overpowers the other, nor does the achingly beautiful scenery overshadow the acting. Even if you do not like the intellectualism of the dialogue, there are some great scenes with the bear. --Rochelle O'Gorman

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 06, 2010 01:07:05