MEL GIBSON TALKS ABOUT FILM'S MESSAGE

* The following comments are excerpted from a recent interview with actor and director Mel Gibson.

Although "The Man Without a Face" (see review, left) marks Mel Gibson's directing debut, he pleads a good case for prior experience.

"I worked with the best directors when I was young," he says. "I hope I've learned by now when to trust actors on their own in a scene and when to take a strong hand with them."

Mr. Gibson is proud that his current project is a departure from his action pictures, such as the "Lethal Weapon" series.

Gibson, who plays a teacher in the new film, says, "I don't know why as a movie director I can't be an educator as well. Sure, the entertainment factor must always be No. 1, but there's got to be more to it than popcorn-munching.

"My movie is about looking past appearances to test the real worth of people.... In my business, we're always judged on appearances first. I wanted to make a statement against that, about looking past that.

"But I didn't want to preach at the top of my voice. I wanted a quiet movie, to speak in a quiet voice. I didn't grandstand it. We kept to a modest budget and didn't go in for car crashes or explosions or anything like that. Nobody kills anyone. I wanted to show how people have far more destructive weapons to hurt each other with, like gossip and slander."

You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to MEL GIBSON TALKS ABOUT FILM'S MESSAGE
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1993/0827/27122.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us