Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Robert Harmon

Writers:

Michael Brandman (story)
Ronni Kern (story)

Release Date:

1 March 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Small-town police chief Jesse Stone almost loses his job after the attempted murder of his close friend and colleague, the captain. |

Plot Keywords:

Police Chief | Fifth Part | Sequel | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Jeremy Akerman	...	Carter Hanson
Kathy Baker	...	Rose Gammon
John Beale	...	Dr. Perkins
Fulvio Cecere	...	Teddy Leaf
William Devane	...	Dr. Dix
Joe the Dog	...	Reggie
Tom Gallant	...	Councilman Collins
J. William Grantham	...	Porter
Jessica Hecht	...	Stephanie Morton
Brian Heighton	...	Boston Doctor
Todd Hofley	...	Alan
Leslie Hope	...	Sidney Greenstreet
Glen Lefchak	...	Homeless Guy (as Glenn Lefchak)
Gary Levert	...	William Buttler
Camryn Manheim	...	Elizabeth Blue
Stephen McHattie	...	Captain Healy
Dawn McKelvie Cyr	...	Nurse #1 (as Dawn Cyr)
Joanna Miles	...	Mrs. Steinberg
Scott Owen	...	Teddy's side kick
William Sadler	...	Gino Fish
Tom Selleck	...	Jesse Stone
Kerri Smith	...	Sister Mary John
Sherry Smith	...	Nurse #2
Kohl Sudduth	...	Luther 'Suitcase' Simpson
Hal Tatlidil	...	Waiter

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Brandman Productions

Trivia:

This movie was filmed in 2007 shortly before Tom Selleck joined "Las Vegas" (2003), but it did not air until 2009.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening scene, the gunman stands perpendicular to the car on the driver's side and fires, blowing out both the driver side and passenger side windows. Yet somehow two holes appear in the center of the front windshield, an impossible angle.

Movie Connections:

Follows Stone Cold (2005) (TV)

A Different Direction for Jesse

This is clearly written as the first of two or three stories. It continues several of Robert Parker's characters very well, while seriously taking a couple along different paths. Most notably, Jesse's character has gotten more serious, and more challenged by life. There was always the sense in Selleck's portrayal of a wounded soul . . .much more so than in the books about Jesse Stone.

Overall, I liked this movie a great deal. I liked the expansion of William Devane's Dr. Hix character ("Dix" in the novels) and Suitcase Simpson's continuing confusion from his previous coma is still amusing, and occasionally disconcerting. But, although I liked the character of Rose, she is no replacement for Molly. Molly and Jesse's banter from the earlier movies is sorely missed. It added the levity needed as a counterweight to the heavier story lines.

I did like those story lines. The shooting of Healey at the beginning of the show starts the story with a bang, and Jesse's dogged determination to track down whoever is responsible is completely in character, even if it does hurt him professionally. The other story line, about the mother looking for her lost child, seemed at the beginning to be entirely predictable, but then it was not. Camryn Manheim, as the mother, is amazingly good here.

And may I just say that I love the music in these last couple movies. The music has gotten much stronger. Piano-based with a feel of Ravel or Satie, the soundtrack composer was listed during the credits, but I didn't catch the name. I might consider buying this soundtrack.

I liked the ending, but it is clearly leading to the next movie. I can only hope that "Jesse Stone: No Remorse" finishes up a couple of these story lines. I'd like to hear what's happening with Molly. And although I think they tied up the story of the lost child fairly well, the plot with Geno Fish, and the shooter of Detective Healey, seems to have much more to play out in the next movie. And of course, we need to find out what happens next with the police chief of Paradise.