The Edge (1997) / Adventure-Thriller

MPAA Rated: R for language and some adventure gore/violence
Running Time: 117 min.

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Elle Macpherson, Harold Perrineau Jr., L.Q. Jones
Director: Lee Tamahori
Screenplay: David Mamet
Review published January 17, 1997

A billionaire (Hopkins, Nixon) flies his supermodel wife (Macpherson, Batman & Robin) up to Alaska for a fashion shoot. While there the billionaire's plane crashes in the middle of the deserted wilderness, leaving only the billionaire and the fashion photographer (Baldwin, The Shadow) alive. They depend on each other for survival, but the relationship is tenuous since the billionaire suspects the photographer of having an affair with his supermodel wife, and also plotting his murder to get his money as well. In the middle of the vast uncharted wilderness, who would know of his demise?

This film plays like an action version of Sleuth with the two stars trying to stay on top of what the other is doing. However, the film is far too simplistic in nature, and the overall storyline is shallow at best. The film gets its few moments of life during some exciting action sequences, with a memorable fight to the death with a large Kodiak bear. It's definitely a departure in material from screenwriter David Mamet (Hoffa, Glengarry Glen Ross), although it's probably his worst work to date. It's a disappointing but passable time-killer.

Qwipster's rating:

©1997 Vince Leo