Can Mel Gibson salvage his career and image with The Beaver?

Well, that remains to be seen, but the potential is certainly there, considering the script for The Beaver is kind of brilliant. I go over it in my Script Review of the film here, but suffice to say, Gibson has got an Oscar worthy role to play with (not to mention juicy supporting parts for supporting players Anton Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence). The early word from screenings was very positive as well, so if audiences are willing to pay to see Mel again, this could be not just a critical hit, but a commercial one as well.

Here's an excerpt from our exclusive Script Review:

In terms of awards potential, I’d look at Best Original Screenplay as where the best possibility lies. If the movie is a hit, Best Actor is where the love should go, though don’t count out Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress (Lawrence), or even Best Director. I don’t know that it’ll be the Academy’s cup of tea, but the potential is there.
Overall, ‘The Beaver’ is one of the best scripts I’ve read in a while. It’s different, but not in an off-putting way. It’s incredibly
touching, and while some may not be thrilled with its choice of denouement, I found it perfect and apt. The premise may be a hard sell, but I can assure you, this will be worth your time. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the movie. If the script is properly executed on screen, this could easily be one of the best films of 2011.
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Go check out the latest Awards Circuit Script Review (the first of 2011 after The Social Network and Buried were two of the prominent ones featured last year) and let me know what you think!

The Beaver debuts to a strong reception at SXSW!

Via The Hollywood Reporter:

Summit made a wise choice in choosing SXSW and Austin to first show its potentially troubled drama The Beaver to a regular audience. From the rousing applause of those in attendance at the Paramount Theatre after the Jodie Foster-directed film finished to the supportive reactions to questions about beleaguered star Mel Gibson, it seemed that the crowd was in an encouraging, forgiving mood.

In a strange way, the fact that Gibson is playing a deeply depressed, barely functional husband and father in the film -- whose message is about the need for connection and helping those who are sick whether you like them or not -- while providing major marketing challenges is also the key to its success with audiences. And thus it has no small potential to buoy Gibson's public reputation.