Some of the reaction to Mel Gibson's "comeback" pic,
The Beaver, has been a little unfair, bordering on personal rather than the professional. A few of my colleagues seem all too happy to be basking in the glow of the film's lackluster debut a couple of weeks ago, but I think eventually the film will win out once it expands. As for Gibson, his road back to prominence has hit a roadblock, but the only way to succeed is to keep at it. His next stab could be in a genre he knows well, the comedy thriller, as
Variety reports he's in talks to join the cast of Brad Mirman's
Sleight of Hand.
Featuring an international cast including Thomas Jane, Gerard Depardieu, Kiefer Sutherland, Giancarlo Giannini, Jon Lovitz and more, the film is about a bunch of bumbling crooks in Paris who accidentally steal a rare coin from a gangster.
This could be a smart move for Gibson, as being part of an ensemble may make it easier for people to accept him as a credible actor again. The only problem I have is Mirman, who has zero good credits as a director, and as a writer is most notable for
Body of Evidence
. Not a lot of confidence there.
