Customer Reviews

Jesse Stone: Night Passage

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tom Selleck is absolutely perfect as Jesse Stone, a character created by the great crime author Robert Parker. Selleck plays a burned out, alcoholic cop who takes a job in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts as sheriff. "Night Passage" is the tale of the quest by the emotionally damaged Stone for the killer of a young girl. William Devane costars as Jesse's shrink and he is excellent. Terrific secondary characters. In my opinion, Parker's Jesse Stone series of novels eclipses his famous Spenser books. This story line is the prequal to CBS's fabulously successful "Stone Cold", Selleck's first outing as Jesse Stone. Grab "Night Passage" . . . the Jesse Stone made-for-TV movies are quality productions with superb acting and beautiful cinematography. Stunning music. Exceptional TV. Highly, highly recommended. You don't ofter see TV this well done these days. You must also pick up Stone Cold one of the best ever made for TV movies and Jesse Stone - Death In Paradise. Can't wait for the latest Jesse Stone TV movie, Sea Change, to be released on DVD!!

I'll skip commentary on the plot or Tom Selleck. Most people have covered these very well. My perspective is production quality. Generally, television movies are merely okay when judged by music and camera work. After all, the little screen is cheaper than the big screen. The stunning production of the Jesse Stone series sets it above anything seen ever.

I would love to know the location setting. I was born and raised in MA and can't imagine a village like Paradise within commuting distance of Boston. The entire North and South Shore above and below Boston are teeming with residents so tightly packed that merely setting off to pick up milk takes resilience and cunning.I'm thinking that it's really Canada or the state of Maine.

It's the harsh and compelling scenery of the shoreline wrapping around the tiny town of Paradise that sets the appropriate mood for the brooding and iconoclastic new police chief, LA fugitive Jesse Stone. Gorgeous, sunny fall days full of spectacular, sharply displayed color recede into damp, rainy, foreboding nights full of those quietly desparate people who rarely dare to leave. The camera work is as stunning as I've ever seen out of Hollywood. One could find entertainment playing this DVD over and over even with the sound turned off.

Crank it up, though. Don't miss the poignant score artfully articulated by Jeff Beal. I hope the soundtrack will be released as well as future movies. I always play the credits that role too briefly at the end. Big screen movie credits go on interminably citing the great contribution of everyone from the executive producers to the gal that keeps the coffee fresh on set. The Jesse Stone series is just a few names at the start and the end. Still, I find it hard to shut the television off until the last note is played.

The cast is a great blend of old pros and new talent. Selleck's trademark laid back style envelopes the storyline like a perfectly broken in leather chair. Kohl Sudduth as Luther "Suitcase" Simpson, the eager young officer, moves into a favorite son roll that contrasts very well against the paternal Jesse Stone. The dispatcher is commandingly played by the amazing Viola Davis who takes her character from skeptical resentment to protective admiration swiftly and smoothly.

Saul Rubinek, the crooked but likeable banker squeezes two movies out of what is usually a throwaway roll. Rubinek may be one of those names you can't place because he's pretty much a utility actor rather than a first stringer. But he's never failed in being a notorious scene stealer in the best sense of the term. He has capacity to spare in his acting and prevents any flattening of character. The viewer roots for his comeuppance and then regrets his punishment.

The Tony D'Angelo character simmers in petty irritaion as the oldest cop at the station who's forced to play bridesmaid to every bride when the job of chief is 'stolen' from him by the incoming LA stranger Stone. Vito Rezza's expressive face and talented posturing creates an enduring tribute to the self-obsessed "little guy" steeming in his own resentments and obsessed with lame efforts to get back at the new chief.

But the real prize is the main character. There's a great deal of viewer satisfaction in seeing a powerful, confident man who, despite his own personal demons, sees crime and punishment through a complicated but common sense lens. Whether in a big city or a tiny village, he operates on his own keenly tuned intution, dispensing justice with supreme condidence. In this world of man-made conflict it is very rewarding to see a man who can un-make the troublemakers.

Excellent lead in to "Stone Cold". Tom Selleck does a great job as Stone in this prequel to the first movie. The back story of him being fired because he drank on the job shows he has a murky past. Him driving to Paradise, and us getting a chance to see character development, is good. He finds some suspicious events tied to the previous sheriff of Paradise, and a good lead as to why the sheriff is retiring early. When he handles a case of a battered wife, he finds the husband is hiding something. If that isn't enough, Jesse's dog Boomer has failing health. It is handled with a sensitive touch. Especially if you have been through it. If you enjoy this be sure to catch the other two movies "Stone Cold" and "Death in Paradise" based on Robert Parker books. You may like "An Innocent Man" as well. It is a drama with Selleck being falsely accused of a crime and then being sent to prison. Tom Selleck is a great actor. Often underappreciated as far as I'm concerned. I have enjoyed ninety percent of all his TV shows and movies. So if you like Selleck or good dramas, be sure to catch this one.

After CBS aired "Stone Cold" in 2005, the ratings response prompted a series of TV movies. So, for the second entry, CBS went back to the beginning and adapted "Night Passage," Robert B. Parker's novel that introduced Paradise, Massachusetts police chief Jesse Stone.

In "Night Passage," we see a very different Stone from the first movie. In this prequel, he leaves Los Angeles after being fired from the police due to his alcoholism. His wife has left him, and booze seems to be the only thing getting him through his pain. And he arrives in Paradise as the hand-picked replacement for the outgoing police chief by an unscrupulous businessman who doesn't want a strong law presence in town. He's sadly mistaken and misjudges Jesse.

Like the other films in the series, "Night Passage" surrounds star Tom Selleck with a dynamite supporting cast. Saul Rubinek, Stephanie March, Stephen Baldwin, Mike Starr, Viola Davis and the underappreciated Stephen McHattie all provide support. The acting is not the problem with "Night Passage," but the story is weak.

Maybe because the paramilitary, white supremacist storyline from Parker's book is ejected in favor of a money laundering scheme, but there's no mystery or suspense to be found here. Jesse suspects Hasty Hathaway from Day One, and he knows Joe Genest is involved with the mob. Besides, Joe doesn't make for a good menace because Jesse kicks his butt within five minutes of meeting him.

The strength of the piece lies with Selleck, who turns in a tour de force performance as a man who is trying to hold on to the last chance he's got in life. Recently, Selleck was nominated for an Emmy for his performance as Stone in "Sea Change," and it's nice to see these films and Selleck getting their due.

Is it a bad movie? No, but it is not as good as "Stone Cold" or "Death in Paradise." I would recommend this one for established Jesse Stone fans only. Even though it is technically "Chapter 1" of Jesse's story, it is a bad film to start with.

I have all the available DVDs from the series and well worth the purchase for me as I love a good mystery and Tom Selleck as well. He is just so easy on the eyes! I don't believe they could have picked a better actor to play this part--Selleck is a great fit.

The "Jesse Stone" series of TV movies goes against the recent trend of fewer and low-rated TV movies (mostly because they are uniformly bad). Possibly it's because it's not aimed at the almighty 18-25 demographic, a lot of more mature watchers will tune in for a movie made for adults.

"Night Passage" is based on the first "Jesse Stone" novel of the same name by Robert B. Parker, best known for his "Spenser" novels and television series. Why this story, which "introduces" the Stone character when he initially moves the ex-cop from LA to Paradise, MA, was not made first (it's the 4th Stone flick) makes one wonder about what the studio suits were thinking.

What this film lacks in explosions and car chases it more than makes up for in character development, mood and style. Tom Selleck absolutely "nails" the character as the demon-plagued Jesse, trying to make a fresh start as Police Chief in a small New England town, away from the crime and grime of LA, along with his drinking problem and his inability to delete lingering feelings for his unfaithful ex-wife.

Parker should feel fortunate that the conversion to film didn't transform his literary character --as television and movies usually do-- into just another cliche-ridden, cardboard action figure. I still think people should be shot for what Hollywood did to "Matt Helm" years ago.

All four films are well-done and well-acted and well worth the time to appreciate the nuances of the characters and the setting.

This review is for Night Passage, the prequel to
Stone Cold. Both of which originally aired on
television in 2005(Stone Cold) and 2006 (Night
Passage).

Another great film to the Jesse Stone series. In
this impressive prequel we get to see how Stone
established himself as the sheriff in the small town
of Sleepy Paradise, Mass. Selleck doesn't dissapoint
as the rundown, witty detective that has a knack for
asking all the right questions. And the suspicion arises
quickly as he's hired on despite his ongoing drinking
problem.

This isn't a "who done it?" mystery, rather a how's-
the-detective-going-wrap-up-this-case type mystery,
where you know early on who's guilty. Stone plods
along methodically putting the pieces together, quickly
sizing people up and questioning everyone in his path, and
it's done so convincingly that you can't help but wonder
what questions will be asked next. The supporting cast is
perfect, especially Stephen Baldwin as the town's abusive
bully. The dialougue flows nicely, intelligently and yet
at a quick pace, even leaving room for sarcasm and banter,
all delivered naturally by the cast.

The setting of the small peaceful fishing town is the perfect
contrast for the big city detective, in creating that fish out
of water aspect. Though looks can be deceiving, there lurks
an ominous danger to Paradise, one in which Stone is
determined to solve.

Another engaging, introspective TV movie featuring Robert B. Parker's "Jesse Stone" police chief character. Though the second of the Jesse Stone films, "Jesse Stone: Night Passage" chronologically takes place before "Stone Cold", the first film produced. That's because this is an "origin" story, showing how Chief Stone landed his job in Paradise, Massachusetts.

The same thoughtful, measured, "artistic" feel of "Stone Cold" permeates this film, as well. Some people find this approach slow and a bit dull, but I like it. My only quibble this time out is a conclusion that wraps every plot point up a bit too quickly and neatly during the course of one scene: some explanation, a shooting, a little more explanation, a little more shooting, all questions answered. The scene also shows us Jesse stupidly putting himself completely at risk as he attempts to spring his trap.

But, as said, that's just a quibble, and the movie is generally very good. Just the fact that these Jesse Stone movies are clearly aimed at literate adults who enjoy skillful, nuanced dialogue and artful cinematography is enough for me to give these productions a strong recommendation.

Selleck does a great rendition of Robert Parker's character Jesse Stone. Better than Mike Hammer ever was.

The entire series of Jesse Stone is absolutely fantastic. It keeps you at the end of your seat. Bravo to Tom Selleck!!!!!! Looking forward to "Sea Change", the fourth in the series.