Crímenes en Paraíso

Stone Cold is fun to watch not so much for the story as it is for the performances of the ensemble cast. Everyone is good in this. Mimi Rogers was definitely a lot of fun as the older seductress. But most surprising for me is Tom Sellick's transformation into a real actor.

In the 80's he was always Sellick being Sellick - much like Tom Cruise is always Tom Cruise pretending to be a vampire, a fighter pilot, etc. I first saw Sellick's transformation in "Ike" (or was it "Eisenhower"?). Gone was the high pitched tones at the end of his lines so typical and annoying in Magnum PI and his films from the 80's. In Ike and in Stone Cold it's as if you're watching a different person.

(Coincidentally, Tom Cruise's work in War of the Worlds also struck me as a breakthrough - something about his performance was more polished and less of the hysterical Cruise mannerisms that irritated me in all of his other movies.) I used to avoid Tom Sellick flicks, but after his last couple of performances, including the brooding old school cop in Stone Cold, I'm actually looking forward to seeing more of him.

In the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts, the experienced Chief of Police Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) is investigating a murder and a rape case. When a series of murders happen with the same "modus-operandi", Jesse discloses the identity of the killers. However, without the motive, proof or weapon, he has to wait for an opportunity to catch the murderers.

"Stone Cold' is a surprisingly good thriller, with an efficient direction, cold but beautiful cinematography and excellent screenplay with great lines, situations and characters. The most impressive is that the identities of the killers are disclosed in the very beginning of the film and they do not have a motive for their insane behavior. This simple, low paced and realistic thriller is centered in the dark, flawed and silent character of Jesse Stone, magnificently performed by Tom Selleck. Jesse is a suffered man with a past in Los Angeles, cynical, amoral, with drinking problems, that does not express his real emotions, but with a warm heart and great sense of justice. Mimi Rogers is also amazing in the role of the cynical lawyer Rita Fiore, and in spite of a minor participation, she steals the scenes that she participates. The support cast is stunning and it is impossible and unfair to highlight only a name, since the individual and collective performances are outstanding. This made-for-TV movie is better and better than many feature films. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Crimes no Paraíso" ("Crimes in the Paradise")

"Stone Cold" is a 2005 made for television film noir starring Tom Selleck. While the plot is rather simplistic, Tom Selleck, as the film's star, offers a strong performance as Jesse Stone, a worn down police chief now serving in the small Maine coastal community of Paradise.

Formerly a high profile homicide detective from Los Angeles, Selleck as Stone gives this film great appeal. In addition, the supporting roles are all well cast, albeit with largely unknown actors except for Mimi Rogers who stars as a local defense attorney.

Police Chief Jesse Stone has to deal with an ex-wife who is a national news reporter who is always hungry for a scoop. He still has conflicted romantic feelings about her and will listen attentively to her messages on his answering machine, but he refuses her entreaties to insulate herself into his investigation in the hope of gaining inside access to the identity of a serial killer or killers suddenly plaguing the town.

Helping Stone to pass the time in Paradise is the joyful presence of a much younger woman who is not only a dear friend but also a welcome sexual partner. She would love to mean more to Stone, but he is so burned out by his previous work in L.A. and his recent divorce that he keeps her at a safe emotional distance. For the most part, alcohol offers about as much of a constant relationship as Stone has any desire to deal with.

The quiet peacefulness of Paradise is shattered one day by the discovery of a body lying near the craggy shore close to the lighthouse. The young man had been shot twice at close range, apparently by two different 22 caliber guns as the angles of the bullets' entry into his body are different.

Making life more difficult for Chief Stone is the gang rape of a young high school student, Candace Pennington (Alexis Dziema), whose parents are strangely uncooperative when they all sit down in the police station for an interview. Her mother had bathed her before coming down to the station, most likely compromising the physical evidence. They withdraw their complaint and leave in a huff after Stone wants the girl to go to the area hospital for a check up and further tests.

A trusted female officer sent over to the high school quickly deduces the identities of the three rapists when she observes them all taunting Candace in the high school cafeteria. They turn out to be popular students who play football for the local high school team. In an effort to separate the three boys into accessories to the crime and rapists, Stone is immeasurably helped by the discovery of incriminating photographs in the knapsack of one of the kids. Now he and his three man staff have to deal with angry parents and high priced defense attorneys brought in to get the kids off the hook.

The day goes from bad to worse when another body, this time a young woman killed in her car in a parking lot, is discovered with the exact same M.O. as the young man. Chief Stone realizes that he has what looks like a serial killer operating somewhere in town and he begins to wonder who will be next since he has no evidence to suspect anyone much less charge anybody.

"Stone Cold" is one of the better television movies that I have recently seen. As the author has written several books starring Chief Stone, my sincere wish is that Selleck will soon reprise this role.

This thriller is a good evening' s entertainment. On a first glance, it is dominated by its main actor Tom Selleck, who is convincing in his role, very present in the scenes and pleasant to watch. I agree with another post here that the storyline, connecting two 'strings' of events together is questionable. On the other hand, the whole film is somehow unique and original, qualities one associates with the country side, where the movie is set.

It contains great pictures with the seaside, where the little town 'Paradise' is located. The characters involved seem authentic and just to watch and get to know them is some entertainment by itself. What is well displayed is the interplay of the innocence of the plot and yet the bruteness of the crimes. The scenes and storyline are nicely painted and evoke feelings of warmness and tenderness with the characters involved and the small American town 'Paradise'. Tom Selleck is great to watch, while finding the right balance in bringing in his undoubtedly great charisma. Together with the simple, but effective and beautiful score, all mounts to a swell thriller well worthwhile to watch.

This is not a police movie. It does have the police chief as the main character and it does present most of the movie investigations and killings and rapes and lawyers, but what it is really about is the personality of Tom Selleck's character.

I personally like Tom Selleck and I think he could have been a great actor not given his apparent gentleness. I don't see him performing great action roles or emotional roles for the money and the fame, I see him as a quiet guy and probably so do many casting people, although I am sure he would have done great in any of the above roles.

The film is nicely shot, mixing the cold atmosphere of a small sea shore town with the beautiful scenery and the plot. The 'perps' are not really presented, they are only doing what they do and Tom gets them. He is also developed through actions and not description. His character's coldness and the last name Stone give the (I think unfortunate) name for this film.

It is a good film.