Point of Origin (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Newton Thomas Sigel

Writer (WGA):

Matthew Tabak (written by)

Release Date:

22 June 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

When fire becomes an obsession... truth becomes stranger than fiction.

Plot:

Fact-based drama about an arson investigator (Ray Liotta) searching for the perpetrator of a string of deadly fires in 1980s California. |

Plot Keywords:

Arson | Fire | California | Arson Investigator | 1980s

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Ray Liotta	...	John Orr / Aaron
John Leguizamo	...	Keith Lang
Colm Feore	...	Mike Matassa
Cliff Curtis	...	Mike Camello
Ling Bai	...	Wanda Orr
Illeana Douglas	...	Kate
Ronny Cox	...	Chief Gray
Trent Gill	...	Marty
Ingrid Rogers	...	Ambria
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Angela Alvarado	...	Mexican Woman
Graham Beckel	...	Clarence Hyde
Sophia Bush	...	Carrie Orr
Mike Camello	...	Glen Lucero
Lisa Chang	...	Excuse Me Lady
Maree Cheatham	...	Gabby Finn
Joe Colligan	...	Lawyer
Shashawnee Hall	...	Lt. Tom Hines
Ashly Holloway
Madeleine Lindley	...	Waitress in diner
Marshall Manesh	...	Store Manager
Bill Moseley	...	Task Force Officer
Gwendolyn Oliver	...	TV reporter
Lynette Ruiz	...	Sketch Artist
Anne von Herrmann	...	Reporter
Nora Zehetner	...	Trish

Also Known As:

In the Heat of Fire (Europe: English title) (DVD title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:16 (VHS/DVD rating) | Germany:16 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

During filming in the hardware store set, located behind Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel, a special effects technician suffered first and second degree burns over 40 percent of his body.

The Ultimate TV Movie

Well the IMDB crowd didn't seem to think much of it but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel that in many ways this HBO production based on a stranger-than-fiction arson investigation is the best that small screen productions can be. However, beware aspiring filmmakers, it doesn't follow the classic Sid Field story arc.

The movie was directed by one of the finest cinematographers in recent times; just check his IMDB profile-- http://us.imdb.com/Name?Sigel,+Newton+Thomas. I look forward to seeing his future works.

If the story catches your interest, you might want to track down a NOVA special entitled "Hunt for the Serial Arsonist", and compare the screenplay to the facts of the case including interviews with investigator John Orr.