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It's been eight years since Mel Gibson starred in a movie and now he's back. He's not directing, as he's done with many of his past vehicles. He's just a hired gun here and the film's called "Edge Of Darkness."

Gibson plays veteran Boston homicide detective Thomas Craven. He's a single dad who's daughter, Emma, has come home to visit and within minutes of the film's opening, she's gunned down in front of his eyes.

But all is not as it seems. Emma was working for a nefarious corporation, and during her time there, she uncovered many of their dirty dealings and was possibly going to go public with that information. Could this be the reason she was murdered?

British actor Ray Winstone plays a government operative who may be playing both sides of the fence, and he's the best thing in the movie. Too bad he doesn't get more screen time.

As Craven digs deeper, he uncovers a plot that goes goes all the way up to the high reaches of our government including a U.S. senator.

The movie was directed by "Casino Royale" director Martin Campbell. But anyone expecting the wonderful joy ride of that movie will be greatly disappointed here.

Campbell is doing an American remake of a six-hour BBC mini series that he made 25 years ago. The Gibson film clocks in at slightly under two hours, but it feels a lot longer. It's so conventional story-wise, so predictable in it's structure and so reminiscent of dozens of other movies of this type, that it's really quite boring to sit through. The action scenes, which are minimal, are also quite lackluster.

As far as Gibson's performance, he does a really bad Boston accent and he seems to be just going through the motions, playing a hybrid of many characters he's played before, just not as well.

Gibson's character has great motivation to find his daughter's killer and get to the bottom of things. This premise might have made for an exciting film, but the execution is convoluted. The stock characters, who are right out of central casting, are also tedious. Overall, it's basically a thriller with little suspense.

Neil Rosen's Big Apple Rating: 1.5 Apples