Edge of Darkness: R: strong violence, language; 1:58; $ $ $ ½ (out of $5) 

 By John M. Urbancich, Sun News January 28, 2010, 12:01AM

Even with a third act that knocks you over the head so often you can’t tell a bad guy without a scorecard, Mel Gibson’s return to the big screen is mostly a successful one in the ever-violent “Edge of Darkness.”

One of the reasons, too, is that, for once, what you see in the movie’s omnipresent trailers is not necessarily what you get, and that surprise is a good thing. In fact, unless you know that this “Darkness” is based on possible governmental conspiracies unveiled in an old award-winning BBC miniseries, you might think you’re in for some standard find-the-killer fare.

Instead, director Martin Campbell (the recent “Casino Royale,” the Antonio Banderas “Zorro” movies and the much-awaited "Green Lantern" comic adaptation, planned for June 2011) reworks those British programs he helmed a quarter-century ago with a team that now includes co-screenwriter William Monahan, an Oscar holder for “The Departed.”

Gibson, on screen for the first time in eight years, acts his heart out as homicide cop Thomas Craven, grieving over and investigating the shotgun slaying of his only child (Bojana Novakovic, of “Drag Me to Hell” fame).

Since his girl died in Craven’s arms, everyone assumes that the deadly hit was meant for him, a not-so gracefully aging Boston cop who has made more than a few enemies among the dregs of Beantown.

Not so fast, my friend. It could be that there’s a lot more than meets the eye, possibly involving the daughter’s boyfriend (Shawn Roberts); a shadowy international operative (the nicely dashing Ray Winstone); and maybe the slick, rich owner (Danny Huston) of a government-connected corporation.

As mentioned, many more get tossed into the conspiratorial mix, including a Craven co-worker that anyone who’s even glanced at a mystery will spot as a fraud the moment he walks into the picture.

Regardless, the fast-moving histrionics will keep most audiences awake. Plus, love him or hate him for some recent personal shenanigans, Gibson remains a legitimate movie star.

Read more by John M. Urbancich at http://jmuvies.blogspot.com/