Mel Gibson Career Suicide?

An online gossip rag has published an account of yet another racist, misogynist diatribe by Mel Gibson and claims that it has it all on tape.  Various political bloggers are presuming it all true, which isn’t entirely unreasonable given Gibson’s history.

Ed Driscoll thinks this spells the end of Gibson’s career in movies.  I’m not so sure.  After all, it doesn’t drastically alter Gibson’s image at this point.   Further, most of us are able to separate a movie star’s personal life from the characters they portray on screen.

There are exceptions, of course.   The oeuvre of O.J. Simpson is forever ruined for me.  Then again, it wasn’t much of an oeuvre.  And then there’s Woody Allen and Roman Polanski.   But those are the only examples that come readily to mind.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. I thought Mel Gibson’s last drunken rant was the end of his career.

    Not that it really matters, of course, Gibson could never make a movie again (which I’d be fine with if Apocalypto is an example of what the future holds for him) and he’ll be just fine.

  2. john personna says:

    Do you think he really wanted to go 2006 to 2010 with one movie?

    Edge of Darkness:
    Production Budget: $80 million
    Worldwide Gross: $80,807,651

    Not a huge return, even assuming creative movie accounting.

    http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=edgeofdarkness.htm

  3. john,

    I don’t even remember that movie.

    Gibson’s problem isn’t his mouth, it’s the fact that he hasn’t been able to make the transition that actors like Eastwood have to play older roles

  4. I don’t know… I can hardly look at Tom Cruise anymore. =)

    That said, he was funny-as-hell in “Tropic Thunder”.

    Separating a movie star or celebrity’s personal life from their career is one thing. Separating a movie star or celebrity’s racist rants from their career is something else altogether.

    My two coppers.

  5. sam says:

    I’m waiting to hear Danny Glover’s take.

  6. Herb says:

    Contra Doug……I thought Apocalypto was awesome. More of a fantasy film than a factual account of the Mayans, sure….but it was still a unique, well-made, and to this viewer, utterly enjoyable film. Mel Gibson? A jerk of the highest order. Apocalypto? A great movie made by a jerk.

    Mel Gibson’s not the first talented artist with a contemptible personality and he won’t be the last.