The Edge (1997)

Directed by Lee Tamahori
Written by David Mamet
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Elle Macpherson, Harold Perrineau Jr., L.Q. Jones

My Advice: Wait and Rent It.

To answer the obvious question: No, the bear doesn't smoke or swear during the course of this film.  And yes, Mamet wrote it.  Also, was I the only one who noticed Macpherson's character name is Mickey Morse?  Hmmm.  Okay, anyway.  The more I think about this film, the more I like it.  Hopkins is a genius billionaire who plane crashes into the wilderness along with Baldwin, who may or may not be trying to kill him in order to acquire the affections of Hopkins' wife, played by Macpherson.  The two of them have to deal with a big ass bear that's read too much Peter Benchley and is symbolic of...well, name it.  Needcoffee.com favorite Perrineau is great in his small part as bear fodder.  Hopkins is cool and collected and...well, excellent as always.  My favorite roles of Baldwin have been Mamet films.  His walk-on in Glengarry Glen Ross kicked unbelievable ass and it's the same here.  Macpherson is good at her role as...um, a model.  What this film manages to do is have multiple levels, which you scarcely see in cineplexes these day.  On the surface is man vs. bear, but beneath is man vs. himself.  Couple this with Mamet, who writes some of the best dialogue going, and you've got a winner.  Although the vistas of the wilderness are gorgeous, I decided to round down and make it a rental in the spirit of thrift.