Mel Gibson

Full disclosure: I went into Edge of Darkness with some trepidation. Mel Gibson hasn't exactly ranked in the public's high esteem in recent years, and the film looked like your run-of-the-mill thriller — which, in many respects, it is. But I didn't expect to become so enthralled.

Based on the BBC miniseries of the same name, the movie centers around Thomas Craven (Gibson), a Boston detective and single dad whose one treasure in life is his daughter Emma. When Emma returns home for a visit, he pries just like any father would. Her boyfriend? She's keeping mum. Her scientific research job? That's classified. Thomas tries to connect with Emma, but he never gets the chance. Hours later as they're leaving his house, she's tragically shot down on the front doorstep by an unknown gunman.

Don't worry, I'm not giving away any spoilers here, because it's what happens after that delivers the most suspense. Just read more

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Leonardo DiCaprio and Mel Gibson are teaming up and going back in time for a period piece about Vikings. Not much is known about the project as of yet (including the title), but Gibson is slated to direct while DiCaprio will be the one slipping on the horns. William Monahan, whose credits include The Departed and Body of Lies, will pen the script — obviously he knows a thing or two about writing for DiCaprio.

The film is already being compared to Braveheart, and it certainly sounds like the kind of epic drama that DiCaprio loves to sink his teeth into. Plus, we all know that he's totally still lusting after an Oscar. Are you ready to see DiCaprio head into Viking battle?

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The Beaver, a dark comedy about a depressed man "who finds solace in wearing a beaver hand-puppet," has been in the works for a long time now, with Steve Carell originally attached to play the lead role. At some point, Jim Carrey was rumored to be taking over the role, but now it's official: neither of these men will star in The Beaver — Mel Gibson will play the lead instead.

Jodie Foster will direct Gibson in the comedy, and she may also play the man's wife. Foster is no stranger to the director's chair, having already helmed Little Man Tate and Home For the Holidays.

The script, written by Kyle Killen, "has generated enormous interest in development circles, drawing comparisons to Being John Malkovich and Lars and the Real Girl." I'm actually looking forward to seeing what Gibson does with this role. I'm not a huge Mel Gibson fan, but I do like it when he plays the more offbeat characters, like the unstable Jerry Fletcher in Conspiracy Theory. Pairing him up with Jodie Foster as director is also pretty intriguing.