Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life

This is an augmented television pilot, not advertised as being so, with an abrupt ending distressing to a viewer who might be so unfortunate as to still be watching a production insulting to any with a modicum of intelligence, due to a storyline that makes no pretense at logic, rather instead stringing together a structure of episodes each more foolish than that preceding, with essentially no sense of continuity. It would seem that the primary purpose of this affair is to demonstrate the costuming talents of Michael Boyd, whose work is often very effective, but here only grotesque, as surely never were denizens of the Old West so brightly raimented in such an array of heterogeneous colours, with all garments seemingly impervious to even a scantling of soil. Director Peter Werner ("We Were The Mulvaneys") and scriptor William Witliff ("Country"; "Barbarosa") are accomplished craftsmen and it is difficult to accept this clichéd and terminally stupid composition as handiwork from either, a possible explanation being preparation and production interference for what purportedly became a popular television series based upon the lead character from this film, Ned Blessing (Stephen Baldwin). There is innovative camerawork, crisp editing, and some fine players earning credit for their skill at delivering their lines with straight face, but the plot provides nothing in the way of character development or plausible motivation, yet offers perhaps the most protracted and cartoonish scene of meaningless violence ever shot.

The woman had a baby out of wedlock and was abandoned by the father Anthony Blessing. The photograph in his watch is the woman and baby he rejected and left behind. Some years later, Anthony Blessing returns realizing he loves her. But too late her family insisted she give the baby away to the Buckner family in another town to avoid disgrace. He looks at the picture with regret and love. The couple marry and have a second son, Ned. However, the memory of her first son haunts her. The betrayal eats away at her until she remarries someone else. The watch his mother gave to his father with their picture in it had a musical tune. The mother showed it to Tors on one of her secret visits at the Buckner family's home.

I watched this movie as a kid and was disappointed because it was so good then it just ends before the story is finished.

While waiting for the hangman's noose, wizened outlaw Daniel Baldwin (as Ned Blessing) writes "The True Story of My Life" while narrating. We flashback to his boyhood (played by Sean Baca) traveling from Texas to California with noble father Chris Cooper (as Anthony). They meet straggly cutthroat Miguel Sandoval (as Bruto) and our hero is kidnapped and made a slavery cook "flea" after calling his new master a "fat monkey." We learn how Mr. Sandoval acquires the nickname "Half-Tongue" and become acquainted with pretty Taylor Fry (as Jilly Blue)...

Almost 20 years later, Mr. Baldwin meets her as a adult actress Julia Campbell. Through the years, a silver lining is heavily-accented mentor Luis Avalos (as Crecencio). He wisely says, "Everybody's got to be somewhere," and cooks a stew which was hard to sit through, let alone swallow. This TV movie is structurally very confusing due to the framing sequences and, frankly, the understandable revenge plot meanders to a halt.

** Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life (4/14/92) Peter Werner ~ Daniel Baldwin, Luis Avalos, Chris Cooper, Sean Baca

Ned Blessing (Daniel Baldwin) sits in his jail cell. As he awaits execution, he writes the story of his life, about how he was kidnapped as a child by Mexican bandits, lost the love of his life twice, and began the road that led him to the gallows.

Most of the time this made-for-television movie is delightful. Luis Avalos gives an incredible performance as a cook/mystic, also imprisoned by the bandits, who becomes young Ned Blessing's surrogate father and mentor. He's a joy to watch, as is Miguel Sandoval, who plays the sadistic leader of the pack.

There's great character actors throughout, including Chris Cooper, Jeff Kober, Rene Auberjonois, Bob Gunton, and M.C. Gainey.

However, all the fun is ruined by the dark, unsatisfying final act and abrupt ending, making this seem like only the first half of a mini-series and leaving many of the various subplots very much open-ended.

I seriously hope that the short-lived TV series and other related Ned Blessing projects clear things up a bit, otherwise this is not recommended!