Jesse Stone: Verlorene Unschuld

The stage curtains open ...

"I'm not in the right and wrong business. I'm in the legal and illegal business."

"Innocents Lost" is the 7th film in the Jesse Stone crime/drama series starring Tom Selleck as the flawed main character. As you can imagine, being 7 movies in, certain things need to change to allow for character arc and depth, while others still need to remain in place to keep the familiarities alive. Though things around him may change, Jesse Stone is still Jesse Stone. Of note, this was the only episode that wasn't directed by Robert Harmon, and it shows.

The Paradise police department has hired on a new Police Chief, who also happens to be Councilman Hanson's son-in-law. Unlike Jesse, he is more interested in greasing the wheels with the local dignitaries than he is in pursuing justice and honesty - causing friction between he and his two officers, Rose and Suit. Meanwhile, Jesse is pulled in again to be a temporary consultant for Healy in a murder case in Boston, while investigating the apparent suicide death of a friend who was on her way to see him. What Jesse uncovers has even Gino Fish worried, leading to a life and death confrontation.

Things seem to be falling apart in the Paradise police department with the arrival of the new chief. Suit resigns, and Rose only stays on because she can't afford to leave. Hasty is still busy selling cars, and we are introduced to his new receptionist, Thelma, played by Gloria Reuben, who would appear again in the final two films. Gino Fish also has a new assistant, Amanda, played by Christine Tizzard. Jesse is still having difficulty figuring out how to have a romantic dinner with a nun, and his dog, Reggie, is still distant.

As things unravel in Paradise, my interest in the series is also starting to unravel, even though this is just as well made as the previous films were. What keeps me coming back and still enjoying this movie, is Jesse and Selleck's portrayal of him. But, things change, and they certainly have in the series. Though it isn't as strong, I still recommend "Innocents Lost". The flashback scenes between him and his friend are compelling, and the story is engaging.

Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost has the former Paradise, Massachusetts police chief trying for a comeback and his small staff of Kathy Baker and Kohl Sudduth wishing he hadn't gone. But he riled up some members of the town council and one of them has put his nephew in as the new police chief. The rather arrogant and fatuous new chief is played by Jeff Geddis.

Tom Selleck as Stone has a perpetual savior who has come for his aid on a couple of occasions. Stephen McHattie who is head of the homicide division of the Massachusetts State Police has a case he's having second thoughts about, but the trial is going on. Selleck interviews the defendant who is on trial for murder and who won't provide an alibi as to his whereabouts at the time of the crime. Selleck also has instincts that prove correct.

At the same time Selleck is investigating this crime a young girl whom he had arrested while on the job has died of a drug overdose. That investigation is on the house and with his credentials supplied by McHattie, Selleck goes off on another investigation and in his usual style steps on toes. What are they going do, fire him?

The Jesse Stone movies are all good, some are better than others. But Tom Selleck has totally gotten away from Magnum, PI. This grim man with issues is so different from Thomas Magnum. Check Selleck out in all of them if you can.

The seventh film in the Jesse Stone series and not based on any book. Seems that's it, the adaptations are over. I thought it was a temporary diversion, but after the third straight film with no sign of going back, somewhat clear that it won't in the future as well. So only the characters from the book by Robert B. Parker was used to take the series forward with the original screenplays.

Jesse is preoccupied with new of him. He stopped talking to his ex- wife since the phone line he cut off. But it could be the reason a teen girl's death. I mean he's not responsible, but when she needed him the most he was unreachable. So he's kind of in guilt for her death and trying to find the real reason behind it. The police department closed the case with a simple statement, but Jesse knows there's something or someone to blame. Like usual, he goes after with the clues he got and also gets some help from his frenemy Mr Fish. Where it takes him and how he solves it comes in the last quarter.

In the opening credit, it was a different look, particularly the Jesse character was transformed into something new. When the rest of the film was in progress, there's nothing like that, just the old Jesse we all knew. He's trying to be close with Reggie, but it is not working. He's not in the force which is not looking good. Not just for him, but also for the film. Because he is a cop, a best one the paradise has ever seen, but his exit from the force was uninteresting the new development in the series. They are trying with the different things since it left the book, but not paying off with the success the series saw from the initial three films.

"What are you looking at?"

The director for this sequel has changed. This is the first time and I was not expecting that, because I thought that's the best thing about this series. I know the last couple of films were not up to the standards, but seems it's good that they wanted a fresh perspective, still, I don't think the new attempt worked out so well. I won't blame the director completely, first of all the story was pretty bad. This is surely the worst film in the series and it came in the time when the series needed a serious uplift. I don't know, from this position where it will head in the future.

It's not about the film is bad, but it does suit to be a part of the Jesse Stone franchise and that's the issue here. Because I felt it was out of the sync with the series. Those new characters, especially what they told us the dead girl Cindy was a close friend of Jesse is somewhat unacceptable. We have never seen her before and you can't just bring her in saying that's a very important person in Jesse's life. Because we know Jesse since he got to Paradise, so this girl is a mystery. Sorry, it did not work for me, maybe a prequel to that might do the fixing job all the damage done in this part. But I'm not confident about that would happen.

For the filmmakers, this installment is a bad dream. How could the writers did not think to include the flashbacks to cover up the flaws. I feel they should have sticked with the Robert B. Parker's book series. Other than the messed up story, as an individual film, it can be enjoyable. Many Jesse Stone fans upset with this one, though I hope the next one gets better. I'm saying that since last few films, but it is only going down and seems not recovering.

Like Selleck is the only reason this film still watchable. He was wonderful with a good supporting cast. So let's see what's going to happen to the film characters, looks some of the main ones useless here. With the wonderful characters, the makers are not developing the interesting story. I almost lost interest in this, but there are just a couple of films left, so I'm going to finish it off. I hope they can be what I'm expecting.

6/10

I love the Jesse Stone series but I have to say this is the worst one of the bunch. The storyline and plot are pretty bland and a lot of the same dialogue from the other films. The way the actors talked did not seem real as they were spouting off fast dialogue and weren't talking in a tone or pace that most people do(hard to explain if you haven't seen it) Hopefully the next movie will learn from this one's mistakes. Jesse is still seen moping around and doesn't go anywhere with his exwife. Nothing really changed from the other ones. While this was not as in depth or just not as interesting as the previous 6, which I really enjoyed.

Weakest of the series. Should be subtitled: A brooding Jesse stares at his dog. Abrupt transitions and ending. Issues left resolved. Feels incomplete.

I read that Chief Stone gets re-instated. I kept waiting for it to happen within the last half hour of the program. I suppose he might be re-instated by the next film. Reggie did a superb job of acting, as always. He has an impressive resume.

I'm glad some things haven't changed, the excellent music by Jeff Beal (I asked him if I could purchase his soundtrack and he sent it to me free via Amazon), William Devane is still the doc, the usual characters were there which is a treat.

The station didn't allow the end credits to roll. Felt like the show ended two minutes too soon. Don't rush the audience. This is why viewing via DVD is much more satisfying.

I hope the next movie will be done this year.