Customer Reviews

Heaven's Prisoners [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Now, I know the above sounds cliche, but in this case, it's really true. I give the movie four stars for atmosphere and for really trying. I watched this movie twice and enjoyed it both times, for the cinematography alone-- which captures everything from the dense, powerful nature of the Louisiana swamps and bayous; to the gothic power of Louisiana Roman Catholic churches; to the cracked, decaying but colorful beauty of New Orleans itself. And where the movie stuck to the book, it was a very good adaptation. Baldwin falls a bit short in his characterization of Robicheaux, looking more often like he was having "digestive" problems than internal angst, but he obviously loves the character and does his best to depict a very internalized personality. Eric Roberts, by no means matching the physically imposing power of the novel's Bubba Rocque, gives his character the dark, attractive charisma and vitality that author James Lee Burke so often infuses the "gray" characters Robicheaux encounters in the novels, and adds some fun and zing to it, as well. Teri Hatcher is damn nasty, beautiful and seductive in the femme fatale role, and Masterson pulls off her role with just the right amount of sympathy and sass (though physically, each actress matches her opposite character in the novel, but it's not a problem here). It's unfortunate that Kelly Lynch doesn't give Robicheaux's doomed wife such memorable character, but in the novel series the character has one entire book behind her before her tragic end. The real problems come with the Hollywood ending-- why they did this instead of the more realistic and affecting ending in the novel, I'll never know (I recommend you read the book to find out-- it's a much more satisfying and telling conclusion). And the connection to the Giacano family, a recurring Robicheaux nemesis in some of the novels, but not the one on which the movie based, was unnecessary. However, the highly action-packed trolley car and rooftop chase, a purely cinematic addition to the novel's plot does work, very well, in my opinion. These kind of additions are needed for the big screen and I appreciated it. Lastly, the production was very good (Baldwin was one of the producers of the film), just as in Baldwin's "The Shadow" movie, which suffered ultimately from a poor script, and I have to commend him-- this movie very much seemed a labor of love. I wish this film had been more successful, because seeing other installments of James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series on the big screen would be very welcome to me, but alas, despite the "good ol' college try" this will never be. But do pick up the movie and watch it for what it does offer, and then get hold of the Burke novels and you'll really be in for a treat.

I have read all of James Lee Burke's David Robicheaux novels. They are fantastic and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for some good reading.

While reading the books I have often tried to pictures which actors could play Robicheaux. A few come to mind: Bruce Willis, Tommy Lee Jones, Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin. In fact, Baldwin was the guy I pictured the most in the role. And I was amazed to find out he actually was starring and producing the film.

For whatever reasons the film does not fully work. The acting, casting and direction are great. But the film just does not cut it.

If you are fans of the books, the movie is interesting just to see visually what we have been picturing in all these novels. If you are unfamiliar with the books you will find the movie average at best.

My advice is to read some of the books and then check out the film.

This is an outstanding movie-if- you know how to watch it! The Cajun life is very different from what most folks think and this flick was made to the Cajun Standard. We ain't talken Miami Vice here. Even the inbred,line bred villins did an exceptional job. Eddie Keech and Victor Ramono looked as if they were born with 8 count shrimp in their mouth. The BB King Blues music in the bars was alright but there could of been some Androux Bordoux music instead as so the movie could really live up to what they were trying to reproduce. I think all the cast did a good job (next time use some Buyoo stand-ins). Overall this movie is about the best Cajun movie around. I put it right up there with the 1974 hit "Hard Times"with Charles Bronson and Robert Tessier!
"ENJOY"

Sure, everyone buys the video for the Teri Hatcher nude scene. You might as well...it did such bad box office that it went straight to TBS (minus nudity)so you won't be recording the unedited original off cable. You could just download the pix from a hundred sites, but dang rabbit, Teri is so sexy in this film that you want to get the whole thing. And while everyone criticizes Alex Baldwin's Cajun accent, Hatcher gets it smooth as silk. Girls, Listen...I didn't read the book. My wife did. And we agreed to see the film after seeing the trailer. She votes thumbs up. As a licensed private detective, I'm not sure I buy the uncoastered Gin Rickey water-mark taste test but, as Johnny Carson liked to say "You buy the premise--you buy the bit." I bought it on VHS.

Overall, I thought this was one of the best crime-genre movies I've ever seen. I feel Baldwin was a good selection to play the main character. Maybe his accent is not perfect, but it ranks among his best performances. It is interesting to watch his subtleties in interacting with different types in the movies, be they cops or criminals. Baldwin is able to combine the strong imposing physical presence and a caring aspect that makes the movie interesting and very entertaining.

The cinematography and music score add to the artsy, film-noir ambience. You'll get more out of it after the second or third viewing. I was lucky enough to see it first at the big screen back in '96. Highly recommended.

I for one love the flick. I thought that Alec Baldwin played Dave Robicheaux very well. Also I thought that Eric Roberts as Bubba Rock was an inspired choice. And it wasn't the actor's fault that the film sat on a shelf for years. They just got caught in the crumbling of Orion Studios. Thus no promotion was assigned to the film when it finally emerged. The saddest thing that may have occurred was that it cooled the creation of further films based upon the other Dave Robicheaux novels. I always felt that John Goodman would have made a grand Cletus Purcell!

The best thing that I can say about this movie is that it led me to the incredible series of novels by James Lee Burke featuring Dave Robicheaux, the tortured ex-soldier, ex-detective, ex-drinker, ex-philanderer, ex-etc. Like so many other deep literary character studies, this film version comes off flat and superficial because it dwells on the superficial elements of events and scenery. What makes Burke's novels so great is the psychic depth of the characters. Each character, no matter how minor, has a birthplace, a childhood, memory and environment that informs his or her presence in the story. Even the scenery in his novels has history. There are ways to bring all of this to the screen, but it doesn't happen here. Alec Baldwin made a credible Dave Robicheaux, but the rest of the film is mostly eye candy, with the exception of Hawthorne James as the scary assassin. James must have read the book. One reviewer said it was a good way to capture the atmosphere of the novels. A better way is to visit New Iberia and spend an afternoon on the chamber of commerce's "Dave Robicheaux Tour."

This is quite simply a 4-star production of a 5-star book. Many people only rented a copy to fast forward straight to the Teri Hatcher nude scene, while some actually wanted to see the screen adaptation of a wonderful book by James Lee Burke.

Many seem to attack Alec Baldwin's portayal of the lead character, Dave Robicheaux, but I actually think he did a very respectable job. Sure his Cajun accent wasn't 100% dead on, but that isn't all that makes a character. The Robicheaux character, throughout the series of books, is a flawed character that is full of heart and that is exactly how it comes across on-screen. It seems as if every other role was perfectly cast, especially the role of Claudette (played by Teri Hatcher). Every last detail is done perfectly, from the accent down to the sultry demeanor.

The plot brings plenty of action scenes, with many scenes that bring out emotion. If the production studio hadn't been nearly broke when this movie was made (and subsequently put on the shelf for a couple of years), therefore going vastly unpublicized, it would have been more successful at the box office. Don't let the numbers fool you, this is quite a film.

The Teri Hatcher balcony scene sure helps too!

This is an excellent movie with a wonderful cast. Lots of action and great cinemotography of New Orleans and the Bayou. The soundtrack is excellent. It is a blend of the blues and New Orleans music. The soundtrack first got my attention but then I saw it on satellite one day and decided I had to have this movie to watch whenever I wanted.

Some may be surprised at the 5-star rating, but let's be honest, we enjoy most movies for sheer entertainment and escapism, not erudition. And to the contrary, the 'exposure' scene is NOTHING compared to the overall smoking, steamy tenor of this movie that practically drips from the eyes of Ms. Hatcher and Ms. Masterson, who have no trouble inflicting maximum interest with their clothes completely on. Between the lush, bayou atmospheres and the rampant sensuality, you are then left to enjoy a reasonably interesting crime story, peppered with noirish violence, acts of revenge, mob intrigue, and the generally overtly masculine behaviors of Mr. Roberts and Mr. Baldwin (among others), saying and doing things you just can't get away with in real life, or not for long. So on all these multiple escapist levels, I found it all quite satisfying, as did my girlfriend. It's been popping up on cable recently and we watch it every time. Now I'm going to buy it for what, $5.79? Two thumbs, way up!