7 Reasons To LIKE Mel Gibson
1. Because he's actually a very good actor
Sure, he's known for mainstream blockbusters like Lethal Weapon and Signs, but that doesn't mean he's not a talented actor! If being a serious actor means you have to be in serious movies, then take a look at films like We Were Soldiers, Galipoli, or Hamlet for proof that Gibson has got some serious chops. 2. The Passion Of The Christ
Say what you will about Gibson's film: it's anti-semitic, it's too violent, it's blah blah blah ad nauseum. At the end of the day, The Passion was a compelling piece of work about Jesus Christ's last hours. It's no surprise that critics didn't like it! Anything remotely conservative is considered pure evil in the eyes of Hollywood. Fortunately for Gibson, who invested $25 million of his own money into this movie, the rest of America is much more moderate, and for $370 million worth of ticket buyers, this was a very moving film.3. Because he's funny!
Mel has that old-school Hollywood charisma that so many movie stars lack these days. Not only is he an effective dramatic actor, but in movies like Lethal Weapon and What Women Want, interviews, and acceptance speeches, Gibson proves he's got a great sense of humor comic timing.4. Braveheart
This movie is awesome. If you're a girl, and you just don't get it- don't worry about it.5. Because he's bold!
I think it's admirable that Gibson takes chances. He directed a movie about Jesus and funded it himself. He shot a Mayan adventure entirely in another language. He frequently commits to producing television episodes and films, despite the fact that TV is a highly hit-or-miss format. Now, though conventional wisdom would tell Gibson to star in a friendly comedy to rebuild him image, he's decided to make his comeback performance in a dark revenge thriller called Edge Of Darkness. He's not entirely predictable, and he knows his super-violent movies will ruffle some feathers, but he just keeps blazing his own career trek. I think that's pretty cool.6. Apocalypto
This is one of my very favorite movies. A non-stop thrill ride from start to finish, Apocalypto, which is really just an extended chase scene, benefited tremendously from Gibson's vision. The Mayan adventure features gorgeous sets, incredible stunts, a heckuva lot of violence, and a cast of very good unknown actors. Gibson set out to make an exciting film that didn't rely on CGI, and he succeeded on every level. It's a shame that Gibson's infamous DUI took place just before Apocalypto's debut, because it deserved a much bigger audience.7. Because everyone has overreacted!
Look, I don't stand by the words that Mel Gibson said, and I certainly don't condone drinking and driving, but come on, people, Mel Gibson is not an evil man. You can't work in Hollywood for as long as Gibson has and hate gay people and Jewish people- they run that town! Ever since Gibson aligned himself with conservatives (and don't misunderstand: Gibson is neither a model conservative or Christian) with The Passion Of The Christ, the liberal media has wanted to dislike him so badly. Unfavorable reviews of Apocalypto had very little to do with the movie itself, and much more to do with the critic's pre-conceived notion that he disliked the director. Any slight incorrect speech Gibson makes or potentially rude action he takes is scrutinized to no end! To the media, there's nothing Mel Gibson can do right. Meanwhile, Charlie Sheen tries to stab his wife, and he gets off with nothing more than a few tabloid articles. A little consistency please?
All right, I'll get down off my soap box now and turn things over to you. What do you think of Mel Gibson? Am I crazy for writing this post? Are you a fan? A hater? An indifferent party? Are you excited for Edge Of Darkness? Let me know in the comments.
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10 comments:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a great article! The things that have taken place in Mel Gibson's life over the last 6-7 years have been very useful in revealing the depths of hypocrisy in the U.S. press and people in general. The ravenous and vicious actions of those who have been ripping Gibson to bits in the press and on blogs is way more criminal then anything he has ever done, and far exceeds any violence in his movies. These people keep demanding apologies, yet they hide behind anonymity and take no responsibity for their own hatefulness and words. And they are sober! The people who cannot forgive Mel Gibson are uglier and more bigoted and hateful than he will ever be if he lives to be 100. I am really looking forward to Edge of Darkness and I'm not about to let some two-faced hack journalist with an axe to grind keep me away from its big screen release.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a great article! The things that have taken place in Mel Gibson's life over the last 6-7 years have been very useful in revealing the depths of hypocrisy in the U.S. press and people in general. The ravenous and vicious actions of those who have been ripping Gibson to bits in the press and on blogs is way more criminal then anything he has ever done, and far exceeds any violence in his movies. These people keep demanding apologies, yet they hide behind anonymity and take no responsibility for their own hatefulness and words. And they are sober! The people who cannot forgive Mel are uglier and more bigoted and hateful than he will ever be if he lives to be 100. I am really looking forward to Edge of Darkness and I'm not about to let some two-faced hack journalist with an axe to grind keep me away from its big screen release.
(Fixed a typo, and wanted to sign myself as Ann. Thanks, again.)
After your post I have moved from not wanting to see EOD, to being on the fence. I had forgotten I didn't like hollywood dumping on him for making...yes, I think I will see it. But purely to antagonize hollywood, not because a political thriller is my idea of a good time. I had forgotten he was in Galipoli.
Honest - I don't care about the DUI.
I've never been a big fan of his period. And that list really offers no compelling reason to change my mind. One or two of his films, yep, but overall he's just never won me over.
EOD doesn't look anything special, it's that simple.
It is the era of easy entertainment, yes, but I feel like Gibson needs some PR. Badly. People aren't necessarily a fan. Even Ricky Gervais called him an alcoholic at the Golden Globes. So he needs to clean up a bit. Look like a classy, chivalrous gentlemen. People might like him better and go see his movies. Follow the Daniel Craig formula, I guess.
For the first time in my life, I completely disagree with everything you've said Grady.
DUI aside, he is a terrible and overrated actor. His movies are all pretty bland (Braveheart aside) and his direction is terrible. Disregarding his boldness, his pictures are not moving nor are they well put together. You complain about propaganda from the liberal end-- Gibson is the posterboy for religious and conservative propaganda. Instead of a factual and emotional drama, The Passion Of The Christ was religious propaganda pointing fingers and using shock factors to create buzz.
Mel Gibson is one of the most overrated directors and actors in Hollywood. He is not charismatic, not funny and is no role model.
I think he deserves every negative comment that is sent his way. That's just my perspective. But I can see why fans would stick up for him. I'm the same way with Tom Cruise. He is a terrific actor who has made certain bad choices.
Haha Rohan! I love the democracy of the internet! I had a feeling you wouldn't like this!
He needs a new public image. refashioned as the GQ sexy man whatever that people used to think of him as.
I haven't actually seen movies with/by Mel Gibson like The Passion of the Christ, Braveheart & Apocalypto because of the extreme violence. And I heard that The Passion didn't even include the resurrection of Christ. What's up with that??? How depressing & hopeless if you don't even include the resurrection which is the main focus of Christianity.
I don't know if Edge of Darkness is rated R, but if it's not, then it might be a movie that I would check out. I heard that it has some similarity to Taken, but that it's a lot more than just action. There's an emphasis on characterization & the emotional background. Sounds like a movie I might be interested in.
The reason why Mel Gibson may continue to get negative press is because he's Catholic. There sometimes seems to be an anti-Catholic & anti-Christian bias in society & Hollywood, like if you're religious you must be a psycho fanatic! Someone even wrote a book suggesting that religions were causing all the problems in the world & should be abolished! Yeah right. Give me a break!
Anyway, Grady, another excellent article. Glad you're Christian.
Unlike Rohan, I've always thought Gibson is a great actor. I've really liked his stuff, and Apocalypto was a great film! I saw Ransom over Christmas for the first time, and thought (at least the first 2/3) were stellar, largely due to Gibson. We were soldiers is one of my favorite war films. I like that he takes risks as well. I have zero desire to see The Passion, because I've heard it's hours of brutalizing violence (though Krystal, I am to understand that you see Jesus walking down the street in the end? I thought I remember hearing that at least, because I had the same question), but I totally respect the guy for making the movie. And I think he is, perhaps, taking an unfair lashing for his conservative nature.
That said, he said some pretty awful things. But I'll see Tom Cruises' movies despite his insanity (and often like them), and I can certainly extend Mel the same courtesy.
I can't speak to any 'propaganda' in Passion, Rohan, whether it be there or not. I know the allegations. But frankly, there likely WERE Jewish people wanting Jesus crucified. Stating that is not anti-semitic. There were probably a LOT, in fact. Consider: you practiced a religion all your life, and man is walking around gathering acclaim as The Answer to your faith, the savior that has been promised. But you don't think so, you think he's a nutjob, or a liar, and corrupting hearts. You'll probably prefer him out of the picture. I don't think this is blaspheme of any kind, and it's not like we should blame the Jews today for the act. But Jesus, and his followers, were jews as well. So the movie could not have been THAT anti-semitic...
P.S. Where is Imani?! I miss him.
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