James Jay Edwards of FilmFracture writes: "The Beaver feels like Jodie Foster is doing her old pal Mel Gibson a favor. Gibson has had a rough few years in his off-screen life, and Foster (who has been friends with Gibson since the pair worked together in 1994 on Maverick) seems to be helping him out by giving him a role that he can sink his teeth into. In the film, Gibson is a far cry from his Sexiest Man Alive days. In this movie, Gibson looks like Gibson looks now -- haggard, drunk and totally believable as a borderline schizophrenic. One thing is for sure -- The Beaver is not a puppet show. It is about as dark as a movie can be and still garner a PG-13 rating. It is not the feel-good hit of the summer. Once the cute puppet is stripped away, the viewer is left with an unsettling look at the core and effects of mental illness. That being said, it is a very entertaining film, even funny at times."
Mel Gibson's career once hit the lowest point over his controversial remarks. But he has been slowing making his way back to the business. With his award-winning directorial comeback, Hacksaw Ridge, aside, here are five of Mel's movies he acted in that we recommend to you.
It’s been well documented that Mel Gibson isn’t the most accepting of individuals, and has lost many fans because of it. Myself included. I decided to try to put my feelings for him aside and have an open mind for his appearance in The Beaver, especially as I was interested in seeing how he would fair in a sea of audiences that don’t especially like him. Although it wasn’t as I expected it to be, I wasn’t entirely disappointed.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence
Director: Jodie Foster
‘You’re nothing without me, Walter. Nothing. I’m the only part of you that works.‘
After two years of severe depression, toy executive Walter Black retreats completely and begins communicating with his long-suffering family through a glove puppet. Meanwhile, his estranged elder son fights to avoid becoming his father.
Having been trapped in limbo for over a year, waiting for the dust to settle on Mel Gibson’s public meltdown, The Beaver is finally released into the world. And it’s hard to imagine a more fitting role for Gibson to have chosen, even if it was chosen and performed before the event.
I wanted to go see this so bad this weekend. It was limited release and the closest theater was at least 30-40 minutes away so unless it comes to a theater closer to me I guess it will be a while before I can make any comments on this movie aside from the fact that what I've seen and heard so far makes me want to see it.