With DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE storming into cinemas this week, we have taken a look back at Mel Gibson’s greatest performances before seeing him again on the big screen in the latest brutal drama from Bone Tomahawk director S. Craig Zahler.
Braveheart (1995)
Perhaps Mel Gibson’s most notable performance, Braveheart follows William Wallace, a medieval Scotsman who leads a revolt against King Edward I after his wife is killed for assaulting an English soldier who attempted to rape her. Wallace assembles an army of men to battle against the English army to uphold their countries freedom and defeat the superior English forces. The film won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director – as well as starring as the lead in this epic war film, Gibson was also the director.
Mad Max (1979)
Set in a dystopian future, where the world’s oil supply is exhausted, and war and famine have broken out worldwide, an Australian policeman (Gibson) attempts to restrain a ferocious motorbike gang. The violent gang had hunted down and killed his wife and son, leaving him in a vengeful rage. Mad Max was one of Gibson’s first roles, launching his acting career. The film itself received mixed reviews at first but has since built up a large cult following.
Related: Read our Dragged Across Concrete review here
Lethal Weapon (1987)
LA police detective Martin Riggs (Gibson) has become careless and suicidal after the death of his wife. Things get even worse when he is reassigned a job with a new partner Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and their relationship gets off to a rocky start. When they’re assigned to uncover and take down a large drug-trafficking ring, facing many dangerous situations, the two begin to bond and work well together whilst trying to take down the deadly criminal organisation. Lethal Weapon is often considered one of the best ‘buddy cop’ films of all time.
Ransom (1996)
Multimillionaire airline owner Tom Mullen (Gibson) is left shocked and devastated when his son is kidnapped. The criminals behind the crime ask for a $2 million ransom and after being advised by his wife and the FBI he decides to pay it. But on his way over to hand over the cash he has a change of heart and instead goes on national TV proclaiming that the money is now a bounty on the kidnapper. For this role, Gibson was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
Signs (2002)
After the sudden death of his wife, Reverend Graham Hess (Gibson) denounces his faith and stops attending church. A few months after the accident, large intricately patterned circles appear all over his crops, and in other places across the world. No one is sure if it was caused by aliens or simply just pranksters, but as more and more bizarre things begin to happen, Graham starts to think that something bad is coming and he and his family are about to encounter a not-so-friendly extra-terrestrial force. Signs was a horror box office success and grossed over $400 million dollars worldwide.
The Patriot (2000)
After fighting in both the French and Indian war, widower Benjamin Martin (Gibson) chooses not to sign up to join the American revolution. His son, however, against his father’s wishes, decides to enlist himself but is later captured by the enemy. Benjamin must drop everything to try and rescue his son, using guerrilla tactics to try and overthrow the opposition. The film received mixed reviews but nonetheless was nominated for three Academy Awards.
Dragged Across Concrete (2019)
Dragged Across Concrete follows two police detectives (Gibson and Vince Vaughn) who find themselves suspended when a video of their strong-arm tactics is leaked to the media. With little money and no options, the embittered policemen descend into the criminal underworld and find more than they wanted waiting in the shadows.
Dragged Across Concrete is out in cinemas in the UK on 19th April.
