Will Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" Redeem Him in the Public's Eyes?

Mel Gibson, once one of the most powerful, most respected men in Hollywood, has a lot riding on his new film. Gibson's last major hit, the religious epic "The Passion of the Christ," pulled in a phenomenal $370 million at the box office. A genuine superstar, Gibson has appeared in more than 40 movies, produced 15, and directed five. He has won two Oscars, three Golden Globes, and numerous other entertainment industry awards. Just two years ago he was voted Favorite Motion Picture Actor at the People's Choice Awards.

All of those accolades came to a grinding halt in July when the media got wind of a scandalous anti-Semitic rant Gibson directed at a policeman when he was arrested for driving under the influence. Mel Gibson suddenly found himself the polar opposite of a people's choice.

Some Jewish leaders were harshly critical of Gibson's "Passion of the Christ," claiming that the movie was anti-Semitic, but Gibson garnered the support of many other religious leaders by screening the movie for free at churches around the country. The eventual overwhelming success of the film seemed to indicate that most of the public didn't view the movie as a condemnation of Jews. But then came the anti-Semitic rant heard round the world.

"Apocalypto" is described as a sweeping adventure epic about the decline of the Mayan civilization. Similar to "The Passion of the Christ," the film features a cast of unknown actors speaking in an obscure language. The movie is exceptionally violent, filled with gruesome slayings and blood beheadings. As with "The Passion," Gibson directed, co-wrote, and produced the film, making sure the final product was exactly what he had envisioned.

Disney's Touchstone Pictures will release it on roughly 2,500 screens across the country. Gibson has worked with Disney for over a decade, lending his voice talents to "Pocahontas" and starring in the 1996 thriller "Ransom" and M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs" in 2002. Because of their mutually beneficial relationship, Disney had no problem supporting "Apocalypto" despite the violence and subtitles, according to spokesman Dennis Rice.

"It's not overly violent for the subject matter," said Rice, 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 dialog." He added that the film's success shouldn't be affected 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." Early buzz about the film has been mostly positive.

Scandal is nothing new in Hollywood, and the effect it has on a star varies wildly. "Everyone has very short memories with celebrities," talent manager Bernie Brillstein told the Associated Press. "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 analysts agree that Hollywood can be instantly forgiving when a star can still pull in huge box-office receipts despite personal problems. Robert Downey, Jr., is a sterling example.

Gibson has done very few interviews to promote the film, and has kept pretty mum about his hopes for its success. But he doesn't seem too worried. Recently he told Entertainment Weekly magazine, "The movie will stand on its own, regardless of any unfortunate experience I may have stumbled upon."

December 8 will prove whether or not Gibson will be able to stand on his own despite his personal stumbles. As industry analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations said, "In Hollywood, you're always as good as your last film, and his last film did beaucoup bucks."