The Beaver
Review by Anthony Morris
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The Beaver
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Yes, this is the film where Mel Gibson spends most of his time talking via a beaver puppet on his left hand.
Turns out that’s not a bad thing...
Whatever
Mel Gibson’s personal issues, he’s always been more than capable when
he comes to playing messed up characters, and they don’t come more
messed up than Walter Black. A father and toy company executive, his
seemingly causeless and ceaseless depression has him estranged from his
family and pushing his company towards bankruptcy.
Seeing
suicide as his only escape, he fails even at that and instead finds a
beaver handpuppet that becomes his salvation. By talking through it, he
regains his connection with life – but is it his salvation, or merely a
way to avoid his real problems?
Director Jodie Foster (who
co-stars as Black’s tormented wife) treads a fine line between comedy
and drama here and for the most part it works.
The ending is a
little shaky and a subplot involving Black’s son and his teen angst is
somewhat uninspired, but time and again this hits exactly the right
balance between going for broad laughs and trying to elicit sympathy
for a man talking through a ratty-looking puppet.
Much of this
comes down to Gibson’s performance as a (presumably – the film
thankfully leaves the details of his illness vague) manic-depressive,
which is outstanding.
Mel Gibson might be the reason people
avoid this film (okay, the Beaver puppet thing is also a little out
there), but he’s also the reason the see it. 3 out
of 5
The Beaver
Australian release: 4th August,
2011
Official
Site: The Beaver
Cast: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence
Director: Jodie Foster
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