Mel Gibson: Man of Passion
...efore he became well-known. His first film was Summer City (1976), a surfing film. The movie wasn’t very successful, and he earned the union minimum─$400. However, it did earn him publicity, and he was picked up by an agent who set him up with a major audition. The night before his audition, Mel, following routine, had too much to drink. He started a fight with three other men, and to say the least, they beat him into his place. He arrived at the audition battered and bruised. Luckily for Gibson, this was the exact appearance that the producers were looking for. Because of this, he was offered the leading role in Mad Max (1979). He played the character of Max Rockatansky, a cop of the future who was out for revenge. Despite having a budget of only 400,000 dollars, the movie proved to be a great success. Mel’s early career was not composed solely of “action flicks.” He showed his versatility in Tim (1979). He played the part of a mentally handicapped man who finds a friend in an older woman. He gave a brilliant performance, and he won the Australian Film Institution’s Best Actor Award. Soon afterward, he starred in another hit, Mad Max 2 (1981), which was released in the United States as The Road Warrior. Serving as a sequel to the original Mad Max, this movie brought violence and gore to a level never before seen in an action film. The movie captured America’s attention, and it made “Mel Gibson” a household name. What ensured an American following for Gibson was his portrayal of a nearly insane cop in Lethal Weapon (1987). The first of four Lethal Weapon movies, it was a box office smash. It earned Mel a spot as one of Hollywood’s leading actors. However, he did not want to grow dependent on action films, so he decided to take a break from traditional Hollywood roles and broaden his horizons. He chose to return to his beginnings in classical drama. He took the title role in the movie version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1990). Many were surprised to see “Mad Max” acting in such a role, but he excelled nonetheless. Gibson has always been striving for greater accomplishments and new challenges. “In the early 90’s, Gibson founded ICON Productions, and through it made his directorial debut in 1993’s The Man Without A Face. The film, which also starred Gibson as a horrifically burned teacher harboring a secret, achieved only middling box-office success, though it was considered a well-wrought effort for a first-time director” (Mel Gibson – Biography, 1) After the release of this film, Gibson had directing experience under his belt so that he could begin what was, at that time, his greatest undertaking—Braveheart. Also, because he owned his own production company, he had more freedom in acting and directing, and it also secured more profits for him. Braveheart completely changed the concept of the war film. It showed that war is not a romantic nor joyous task; it is hell. It showed a level of blood and gore eclipsing that of even Mad Max 2, a feat unfathomed by Hollywood. Its story captured the audience’s imagination as Braveheart won its place among the greatest films ever made. The Braveheart epic involves: …thirteenth-century hero William Wallace, who led a ragtag Scottish resistance against the tyranny of England…Braveheart wasn’t an immediate hit, (but) it caught on after earning five Academy Award nominations. Gibson ended up taking home two statues, for best director and best picture. (“Mel Gibson”, 3 & 4) Because of these awards, Gibson proved that he could be a legitimate director, and the production of this film turned out to be a major milestone in Gibson’s career. More recently, Mel has released his most controversial film to date. Almost a year before its release, The Passion of the Christ had critics talking. Gibson “put it all on the line” for this film, using 30 million of his own dollars to pay for the making of the movie. It is said that “The Passion” shows unnecessary carnage for its storyline, and that the gore is irrelevant to the plot of the film. Also, its portrayal of Jews has been described as anti-Semitic. It is said that the film shows the Jewish elders as being ignorant and cruel. However, Mel has been supported by a notable Rabbi, Daniel Lapin: These protests against “Passion” are not only morally indefensible, but they are also stupid, for three reasons. The first reason is that that they are unlikely to change the outcome of the film. Mr. Gibson is an artist and a Catholic of deep faith of which this movie is an expression. Does anyone really believe that Gibson is likely to yield to threats from Jewish organizations? The second and more important reason I consider these protests to be ill-advised: While Jews are telling Gibson that his movie contradicts historical records about who really killed Jesus, Vatican Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos has this to say: “Mel Gibson not only closely follows the narrative of the Gospels, giving the viewer a new appreciation for those Biblical passages, but his artistic choices also make the film faithful to the meaning of the Gospels, as understood by the Church.”.. Finally, I believe the attacks on Mel Gibson are a mistake because while they may be in the interests of Jewish organizations who raise money with the specter of anti-Semitism they are most decidedly not in the interests of most American Jews who go about their daily lives in...