Jesse Stone - Innocences perdues

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.

IMDb reviewers enjoy a challenge almost as much as Parker's Jesse Stone character in this series.

For those recently arrived from another planet, this series is not exactly what it seems, to wit:

1. Selleck is in the "mature" stage of his career is here killing two birds with one (sorry for the pun) 'stone' -- the actor spends most of his time in Nova Scotia, loves it, and by producing/starring in this self-made series he gets to have his cake and eat it too

2. The negatives? Not many. You cannot even in this day and age do a Canadian film without casting at least one or two "Canadian extras" with their strange dialects and poorly-formed thespian skills. However the US contingent (Stone, Baker, deVane) are so goshdarned good, and the writing is so goshdarned sharp, and the scenery so goshdarned splendid, that these small moments of pain pass quickly.

3. Slow moving to some, but what you do have on screen is what the late Spencer Tracey would have referred to as "choice"

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 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.

I missed the last Jesse Stone movie, but hope to see it when it is repeated. This may affect my knowledge of what is going on.

Jesse is no longer police chief of Paradise. He is now averaging two drinks a night, which seems fine to him. And while he had talked to ex-wife Jen every night since their divorce, he has not spoken to her in three weeks. This may be because he threw the phone and broke it, and he doesn't get cell phone reception where he lives. Also, he hasn't seen Dr. Dix in three weeks. But he gets a request to help the Massachusetts state homicide detectives once again. Soon after that, he is back in Dr. Dix's office trying to justify his continued drinking and deal with other problems.

The new chief is William Butler, who doesn't seem especially well-suited for this small town. He is nice enough as he takes over from acting chief Simpson (D'Angelo is gone), but he calls everyone "detective" even though Paradise is too small to have detectives. He makes Rose the dispatcher and has a conflict with Simpson over whether to give the town a positive image rather than telling the truth. And he certainly doesn't make a positive impression on Stone.

While driving to Stone's house, Rose finds Rutherford College student Cindy Van Aldan (Eileen Boylan) dead inside her car on the side of the road. Stone once arrested Cindy for drug use and made her spend the night in jail; we see their relationship through flashbacks. Officially, this appears to be a suicide, but Stone has doubts.

In Boston, Stone is asked to help with the case of Charles Morris, a black man who insists he is innocent of holding up a liquor store. Stone thinks Charles is the victim of racism. Stone, incidentally, has a light-skinned black girlfriend these days, Thelma, who is younger than some of his hats but has children in college.

Stone asks to be given a badge and official title by the state homicide department, but of course Stone is not known for following the rules. He uses his badge to look into Cindy's case. Cindy spent time at Tranquility, an expensive rehab facility which Sister Mary John says doesn't accomplish anything. Dr. Parkinson (Mark Blum), who just happens to live in Paradise and knows Stone is a potential patient, won't give out any more information than he has to.

Eventually, Stone manages to make progress on both his cases. But does he accomplish enough to get back on Paradise's police force and send William packing?

People who are new to Jesse Stone's character, and especially those who get bored easily, should probably skip the first few minutes. But the excitement level builds, at least for those interested in solving a mystery or two rather than gunfire and explosions. While there is some of that second type of excitement at the end, this movie is really for those who want to see Tom Selleck's talent playing a flawed but intelligent cop getting things done that others can't. These movies tend to spend more time looking closely at Stone's character than actually solving crimes. And that can be a good thing.

This movie lives up to the reputation the other Jesse Stone movies have established. It is not based on any of Robert Parker's books directly, but on the character. And there are plenty of other good performances.