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Will ‘Apocalypto’ restore Gibson's career?

“Apocalypto” arrives in theaters Friday with an incongruous challenge — its auteur, Mel Gibson, is both its biggest asset and biggest problem.
/ Source: The Associated Press

“Apocalypto” arrives in theaters Friday with an incongruous challenge — its auteur, Mel Gibson, is both its biggest asset and biggest problem.

Gibson, 50, is coming off two major hits: the phenomenal, $370 million success of his religious epic, “The Passion of the Christ,” and the scandalous, anti-Semitic rant he spewed after a drunk-driving arrest in July.

The question is: which hit will prove more powerful? Will moviegoers turn their backs on him or will they turn out at the box-office?

A certified superstar, Gibson has appeared in more than two dozen movies, including the popular “Mad Max” and “Lethal Weapon” series. In 1995, he won two Oscars — best picture and best director — for his Scottish war saga, “Braveheart.” He garnered a groundswell of support for the bloody and controversial “Passion of the Christ,” which some Jewish leaders claimed was anti-Semitic, by screening the film at churches around the country.

He has used a similar selective screening tactic with “Apocalypto,” showing early cuts to Native American audiences.

Though Gibson’s name appears on the movie’s advertisements and his voice narrates its previews, he is doing few interviews to promote the project — an apparent tacit concession that his personal problems over the summer would dominate such conversations. Gibson declined to be interviewed for this story.

“Apocalypto” is a sweeping adventure about the decline of Mayan civilization. Filled with gruesome slayings, bloody beheadings and a cast of unknowns speaking an obscure language, it’s an unconventional film — a tough sell even before its only famous name made international headlines for hateful words. Still, early reviews have been mostly positive.

Most of the industry insiders contacted by The Associated Press said quality speaks for itself and personal feelings about Gibson should have little bearing on the film’s success.

“Of course he’ll bounce back,” said George Miller, who directed Gibson in the three “Mad Max” movies. “I believe his passion is for writing and making movies. Everything he does is interesting. He certainly is quite brave as a filmmaker. I think ‘Apocalypto’ is probably going to prove that.”

As with “The Passion,” Gibson made “Apocalypto” his way. He directed, co-wrote and co-produced the film, which was financed through his company, Icon Productions. Disney’s Touchstone Pictures banner will release it on roughly 2,500 screens.

Is Hollywood quick to forgive?
Disney and Gibson go back at least a decade together. Gibson lent his voice to the animated “Pocahontas” and starred in the 1996 thriller “Ransom” and 2002’s “Signs.”

Thanks to that relationship and Gibson’s Oscar-winning track record, Disney wasn’t dissuaded by the violence or subtitles in “Apocalypto,” said spokesman Dennis Rice.

“It’s not overly violent for the subject matter,” he said, calling the film “a flat-out action adventure.” “I don’t think the subtitles will get in the way. To understand and appreciate the story Mel’s telling, you don’t need a lot of dialogue.”

He added that the film’s success shouldn’t be diminished by Gibson’s personal struggles.

“The success of this picture is completely dependent upon us to generate interest in (it),” he said. “I have been impressed by the public’s ability to evaluate the movie on its own artistic merits.”

Scandal is nothing new to Hollywood and there seems no way to predict its effect on star power. For example, Winona Ryder’s career fizzled after she was arrested for shoplifting in 2001, but Robert Downey, Jr. has continued to thrive on-screen despite a string of high-profile drug arrests and failed rehab attempts in the late 1990s.

“Everyone has very short memories with celebrities,” said veteran talent manager Bernie Brillstein. “If people love the movie, I don’t think they’ll say they didn’t like it because of remarks he made. If it’s good, it will do very well.”

Industry analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations agreed.

“Hollywood is pretty quick to forgive once those box-office numbers roll in,” he said. “In Hollywood, you’re always as good as your last film, and his last film did beaucoup bucks.”

Regardless of how it fares at the ticket counter, “Apocalypto” is already succeeding, Bock said, by shifting the public discussion from Gibson’s personal life to his filmmaking skills.

But image expert Michael Levine sees things differently. He said Gibson must succeed to ensure his Hollywood future.

“If this movie fails, the sense will be that he is forever dirtied” by his actions, Levine said. “This is vocational life or death for him. Even if the movie is a home run, I don’t think it will fully cleanse him from the crisis. But I think it will help.”

Moviegoers will have their say this weekend. Gibson doesn’t seem worried.

“The movie will stand on its own,” he told Entertainment Weekly magazine recently, “regardless of any unfortunate experience I may have stumbled upon.”