The Edge (1997)

[7]

Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, and Harold Perrineau survive a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness where they have to rely on each other for survival against the elements and a bloodthirsty kodiak bear who follows them everywhere they go. So we’ve got ‘man against nature’ and ‘man against beast’ going on. Writer David Mamet and director Lee Tamahori (Once Were Warriors) go one step further by having Hopkins and Baldwin in a suspected love triangle with Hopkins’ wife. When the truth comes out, The Edge also becomes a story about ‘man against man’.

The Edge moves along nicely, building suspense around the scenario and drama between its main characters. But it’s also observant of several grace note moments — ones of quiet calm or natural beauty, both of which are even more appreciated after the film’s many close calls. Hopkins and Baldwin are more than serviceable in the leads, and their co-star Bart the Bear (one of Hollywood’s most legendary trained animals) is pretty impressive in a handful of confrontational scenes with them. The film also features gorgeous wilderness and mountain scenery and a top-notch scoring effort from Jerry Goldsmith.

With Elle Macpherson and L.Q. Jones.