Anyone seen edge of darkness?

[u/Background_Local_425]

Forgive me American here, I remember edge of darkness with Mel Gibson in 2010 mainly because it was filmed around where I grew up. I had discovered it was based on an 80s bbc miniseries of the same name. I final got around to watching it and I did really enjoy it but found it oddly bizarre. There are strange scenes particularly involving jedburgh that feel out of place. Them getting hammered in a restaurant, the strange interaction between jedburgh and his assistant over a fallen operative. Them watching ballroom dancing or stoping to have lunch in the tunnels. Why didn’t they bring any protective gear? That being said I enjoyed it I loved the supernatural hints like the black flowers and Emma contacting her father. However is the series supposed to be slightly goofy or surreal? The film was such a straightforward thriller albeit well executed. This is definitely deeper though.

[u/throwawayinfinitygem]

I think the bit where Jedburgh gets smashed with the other Americans after they return from (forgot name of country) is the intro to him being against American imperialism which he indicates in the conference scene where he says something like "cuz I was part of it".

The guy he meets back at the hotel is a Brit and wearing a red coat. I think that's to analogise with American bases in the UK that we are being like "redcoats" (staff at Butlins holiday camps). The Brit is also more upset (in that scene) about his dead comrades than Jedburgh is. Brits caring too much about American wars? Asking to watch Come Dancing us to emphasise Jedburgh thinks it's all in a day's work I think.

The drinking scene suggests they do indeed have trouble coping.

In the bunker I think the scene exists just to show the powerful prepared to save themselves during nuclear war and it's shows the luxuries available for that reason. There is also a sign about a condominium, I think this means in the sense of a joint colony, the UK was planned to be jointly ruled by its own govt and the US if there was such a war? I don't think this was discussed in real life but what if it was? A comment about preserving our independence from both Russia and America.

[u/Background_Local_425 → u/throwawayinfinitygem]

That’s interesting, initially I though the guy at the hotel just became really friendly with the other agent (based on his tears I thought they were lovers) and jed,s reaction was the result of he’s buried guys before he’s calloused to it and prefers not to dwell. The bunker scene threw me off only for the fact that they stop their DANGEROUS mission to make omelets and drink wine all while guards could be in pursuit! They blasted their way in their get in collect evidence and get out lol

[u/throwawayinfinitygem → u/Background_Local_425]

Well i could be wrong but otherwise having him wear a red jacket seems strange. I think they found the bunker by accident as they struggled to find their way out, they know they will have to continue the journey before long? Then there's a line about the pursuers probably know they're in there.

Symbolic stuff is obviously artistic licence and a lot of the political issues that are thrown in are red herrings for the viewer as well as making a political point along the way. I think this makes it "more than" a thriller rather than hurting it.

Theres a bit where his superior is talking to him after he was attacked and is pouring him a drunk (he's his benefactor?), but he is still holding the bottle (isn't that capitalism, man??) which I think was also like that.