The Edge (1997) R - 4 Stars

Though the movie, aka  "Bookworm," and "The Wild," could have been a little more action packed, I really liked the way it gave me tingles up and down my spine, making me nervous. A 3½ Star movie, I'm pushing it up because of that uncomfortable feeling it gives and it's subtle message of surviving life. Bart the Bear is very intimidating in this movie and remarkably, a great actor. Hopkins, as always, brings his role to the table, first class, playing an introverted millionaire, preserving a mind filled to capacity with trivial, yet important, information. He's married to a younger wife and suspects her photographer, Baldwin, and she are having an affair. Quit by accident, the men are left to fend for themselves when their tour plane crashes, leaving them stranded in the wilderness, fighting for survival. The scenery is awesome!

Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins), is an eccentric old millionaire married to a much younger wife, Mickey (Elle MacPherson). She's asked him to go away with her to a lodge in Alaska where she will be doing a photo shot for Robert, 'Bob' Green (Alec Baldwin). As it's his birthday, it would be good for them to get away.

Along with photo assistant Stephen (Harold Perrineau), they arrive at the lodge owned by Styles ((L.Q. Jones). The birthday party is a success but Charles can't help notice the way Bob and his wife look at each other. He tries to put his differences aside when Bob gives him a gift of a sharp pocket knife for his birthday. Mickey gives him a stylish pocket watch, engraved inside of her devoted love.

Bob is looking for something to take his photo shot to the edge and notices a picture of Indian Jack Hawk (Gordon Tootoosis), on the wall. He wants to find Jack and include him in his photo shoot. Jack lives about 70 miles away and the only way to get there is by plane. Pilot (Eli Gabay), arranges to fly Charles, Bob and Stephen, to find Jack Hawk and persuade him to come back for the shoot. As the plane runs into flying geese, the motors are torn a apart, sending the plan into the river below, killing the pilot as the plane goes down. Barley escaping with their lives, Charles, Bob and Stephen are trapped in the middle of nowhere with very limited resources. When a massive grizzly begins to stalk them, it's every man for himself as they try to stay alive.

One Step Up Inc.,
Director: Lee Tamahori
Writer: David Mamet
Producer: Art Linson

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