11 Great Mel Gibson Films You Should Consider Watching

Mel Gibson is one of my favorite actors and I previously wrote about Mel’s ten best films. The list featured Braveheart, The Man Without a Face, Lethal Weapon and Mad Max. However, he has done some other good films worth mentioning and this article mentions them all, in a “timely” manner.

1)      Gallipoli (1981)

Cover of Gallipoli

Naive young Australians are tricked into fighting against the Turkish (World War 1), in a war that had nothing to do with Australia in the first place. It is also a frienship tale. Directed by Peter Weir. Of course this film will hit a chord with the Turkish and Australians. However, a good picture is universal. Peter Weir became one of my favorite directors after Gallipoli. So it shouldn’t be surprised that the next good Mel movie is also by Weir.

      2) The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

Cover of The Year of Living Dangerously

You probably remember Peter Weir from  Dead Poets Society (1989) and The Truman Show (1998).

Guy Hamilton is a young Australian journalist. When he arrives in Indonesia, the politics get complicated and the life there gets more dangerous. He has two allies: his photographer Billy and diplomat Jill, who he seems to be falling for fast. Of course these relationships make Guy’s job tougher. Billy is far more concerned about the natives than news and any info Jill will provide him is in strict confidence. So how the hell is Guy supposed to make his career, carry out a powerful romance and keep probably the most loyal friend he has made? Not to mention, his life is not all that safe either.

Beautiful drama/romance/war/thriller. Did I mention Jill is played by Sigourney Weaver? That’s right- she didn’t just fight aliens all her career, folks!

3) The River (1984)

Cover of The River [HD DVD]

I am a Mel Gibson fan (his acting, not his politics/views) for good reason. He didn’t just play a good-looking cop all the time. Sure 4 Lethal Weapon and 3 Mad Max movies make for 7 cop roles right there but there is more to Mel’s roles. In The River he stars opposite Sissy Spacek, as Tom Harvey – a young farmer barely making ends meet. He has to keep fighting against a river, the opportunists trying to make money and their own financial difficulties. The movie is not about twists. It is a good story beautifully told, made extra effective with powerful acting. I had taped it in VHS times. I am so looking for the DVD. Worth seeing again.

4) The Bounty (1984)

Cover of The Bounty

This is one hell of a movie.

Can I just try to impress you with the actors first? Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins play the lead roles. And for supporting roles- drum roll: Daniel Day-Lewis and Liam Neeson. You can’t beat a casting like this.

The plot? Sure: Lieutenant Bligh (Hopkins) assists the help of his friend Fletcher (Gibson) on a long and difficult journey. At first, things go alright. However a stop to an exotic land results in catastrophic changes for everyone. The crew enjoys themselves and being around the lovely native girls. Their captain doesn’t like their changes in attitude and lifestyle. But to his dismay, Fletcher is also more at home there than in England. Moreover Fletcher has fallen for the daughter of the chief. Underestimating his feelings will result in mutiny. But will the rebels get a happy ending?

      5) Mrs. Soffel (1984)

Cover of Mrs. Soffel

Mel Gibson plays Ed – a criminal guilty of murder. Diane Keaton plays Kate Soffel, the wife of the prison warden. She enjoys communicating with prisoners and reading them passages from the Bible. However, the more she visits Ed, the more she falls for him. After a while, things get quite an interesting turn as Kate decides to help Ed and his brother Jack escape. The three of them do their best to stay alive and together. Based on a true story.

It is a nice drama/romance with the occasional action scenes thrown in for good measure. Mel and Diane are both great in their roles.

6) Bird on a Wire (1990)

Cover of Bird on a Wire

This is one of the most fun films I have ever seen. It is just really entertaining all around. What’s not to like? You have Mel as Rick Jarmin, an ex (sort of) criminal under the FBI’s witness protection program. He earns his living doing odd jobs and he changes identities whenever someone recognizes him. His peaceful life in Denver, working at a gas station is interrupted when one of the customers recognizes him. The customer is Marianne- Rick’s  high school sweetheart who was certain he was dead. This time FBI doesn’t help Rick, however. His case is overtaken by a mole and his life is in serious danger. Marianne’s curiosity gets these two involved again and when the men come after Rick, Marianne has to escape with him to save her life.

Two ex-lovers who were never over each other try to work out their differences and try to survive. Full of action and funny events.

7) Air America (1990)

Cover of Air America (Special Edition)

Mel Gibson stars with Robert Downey Jr. in this great action comedy.

Billy (Robert Downey Jr.) reports news from his helicopter but when his crazy theatrics lands him in a job in Vietnam, he realized that he will be co-piloting with a guy crazier than he is: Gene (Gibson). Billy and Gene get along just fine but Billy realizes that the operation is corrupt and the pilots are a part of it. But what the hell can he do about it?

This is a fun, crazy ride strongly recommended for Gibson and Downey Jr. fans. If you are a fan of both- like me-even better.

 8) Hamlet (1990)

Forget Branagah’s 4-hour versions of Hamlet. Here is a decent and older version with Mel as Hamlet, Glenn Close as Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother) and Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia.

Mel is always at his best at crazy roles. Maybe it is because he doesn’t always strike as the most normal person in real life either. But he is a gifted, diverse actor who pulls off Hamlet

quite nicely. Trust me, you will not be bored. Hooked, is more like it.

9) Maverick (1994)

Cover of Maverick (Snap Case)

This is the movie version of the TV series where James Garner used to play Maverick. Now he has another leading role. The movie is directed by Richard Donner who directed Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon series so be on the look out for a very fun reference.

Mel is Bret Maverick a good card player, dying to join a very big poker game. He is not that lucky however as a lot of things go wrong on the way: such as meeting the pretty yet skillful thief Anabelle, running away from dangerous crooks (Alfred Molina) and so forth…

It is funny as hell. A great ride.

10) Payback (1999)

Cover of Payback

     Well, he has a lot of great stuff in the 90s that I put in my Mel’s Top 10, hence the gaps in the

      time periods.

      Payback is a beautiful action film with some pretty dark and funny scenes attached.

      Porter (Gibson) is a crook and well, he is not bad at what he does. He and his partner Val land

      a nice sum from their last job. However, Val and Porter’s wife take the money and leave

      Porter to die.

      Porter survives and he has a plan on how to get his money back. But it is one hell of a ride

      watching Porter team up with his ex-girlfriend who is a hooker (Maria Bello), and outsmart

      the mob, cops and Val…Porter might be smart but he is definitely outnumbered.

      Entertainment at its best.

11) The Patriot (2000)

 Image via Wikipedia

Benjamin Franklin (Gibson) has lost his wife years ago and although he has fought battles before, but he is perfectly happy caring for his land and looking after his children. His eldest Gabriel (Heath Ledger) is more than willing to fight. But it is when one of Benjamin’s sons is killed that he decides to go into war and protect the rest of his family with whatever he has got.

Did the premise remind you a little of Braveheart? A man wanting to live in peace but a loved one is murdered and this turns him into a great vengeance-seeking warrior? Well, I did think of Braveheart. While not as powerful or effective, The Patriot is a good movie. Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow) knows how to direct gloriously and boy, Mel Gibson is terrific as a vengeance-seeking parent. Did I mention Gabriel is played by Heath Ledger?

This movie should not be missed. While not ground-breaking, it is definitely worth watching.