JESSE STONE: STONE COLD
US, 2005, 87 minutes, Colour.
Tom Selleck, Jane Adams, Reg Rogers, Viola Davis, Alexis Dziena, Kohl Sudduth, Polly Shannon, Stephen Mc Hattie, Shawn Roberts, Mimi Rogers.
Directed by Robert Harmon.
Stone Cold is the pilot movie for a series of films about Robert B. Parker’s detective and police chief, Jesse Stone. He has been played by Tom Selleck in the seven films from 2005 to 2010, all directed by Robert Harmon.
The setting is a town called Paradise, Massachusetts. In this film there is a series of random killings, performed by an odd couple, played by Jane Adams and Reg Rogers. Tom Selleck, divorced, with an alcohol problem, has been moved from Los Angeles to Massachusetts. He is a straight-talking, no-nonsense policeman. In the office he is assisted by Molly Crane, played by Viola Davis, and Luther ‘Suitcase’ Simpson, played by Kohl Sudduth. He has a girlfriend from the municipal offices, played by Polly Shannon. She becomes one of the victims of the made couple’s killing spree. Stephen Mc Hattie, who was to appear in other films, plays the Boston police chief. There is a cameo by Mimi Rogers as a rather imposing defence attorney.
The audience knows who the killers are early in the film, so it is a matter of watching the cat-and-mouse behaviour of the couple with the police chief. There is also a subplot about the local high school football champions and their gang rape of a sixteen-year-old effectively played by Alexis Dziena).
The film is well written, well paced and keeps audience interest. It assured the continuation of the series for quite a number of films.
1. The writings of Robert B. Parker? The Jesse Stone series? Translated to the small screen?
2. Paradise, Massachusetts, the dictionary meanings given at the beginning? The look of the town, the coast, the cliffs? The streets and homes? High school? Police precincts? Mansions? An authentic feel? A setting for murder investigations? Musical score?
3. The focus on Jesse Stone, Tom Selleck’s screen presence and performance? The back-story, his journalist wife, her continued contact with him, wanting stories? His drinking? Transferred from Los Angeles? His settling in, working with Molly and with Simpson, the other members of the staff? his straightforward attitudes, laconic, speaking directly, speaking his mind? His relationship with Abby, her advice about the drinking, the divorce? The effect of her murder, his being shattered? His investigating the murders, forensic evidence, the authorities in Boston, handling the media? Handling the town council? The suspicions of the Lincolns, the visit, taking their rifle? Their following him? His confronting them? His setting them up, the linking of their story with the rape investigation? Their succumbing to the trap, the confrontation, the shootout, Andrew and his fears and arrest?
4. The Lincolns, the random murders, filming the victims, choosing them, the executions? The death of Abby? Their behaviour, the discussions with Jesse Stone, boasting, their travels? Their wealth? Madness? Following Stone, the death of Abby? The set-up, their falling into the trap, their vanity? The confrontation, Brianna as the killer? Andrew and the film, his cowardice?
5. The rape case, Candace coming with her parents, her silence, her mother’s demands? Molly and her going to the school, watching, identifying the assailants? Getting the photos? Stone and his giving a lift to Candace, winning her over, confidentiality? Her gratitude towards him? Marino’s father, the fight with Candace’s father in the office? The threats of an assault case? Rita Fiore and her entrance, her demands? Her assessing the situation? Her meeting with Stone, coming on to him, the meeting, the date, her estimating his value? The deal?
6. The boys, confrontational, Bo and the joint in the toilet, being arrested by Molly and overcome by her? His surliness? Kevin Feeney and his mother, the interrogation, his admitting the truth? Bo and his father, his father’s surliness? The deal with the DA, their working for the police chief? Candace and her being able to face life again?
7. Molly, as a person, interchanges with Jesse? Her skill with Bo? Her concern about rape crimes? Luther, his earnestness, Stone and his leading him on, his investigations, support of Stone? Captain Healy and his visits?
8. The elaboration of the murder plot? The rape plot? Combining the two in the set-up for the Lincolns? A satisfying police story?
