Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise

With a world hell bent on watching reality TV, the Jesse Stone stories are fiction that is like watching reality. The simplicity of the story makes it believable, and the simplicity of the characters make them believable. The characters have flaws and "character" but like the story, they aren't so complex as to "make you think" - but rather to make you sit back, take it in and enjoy watching the story unfold. Some may say the story is predictable, yet these have never been big plot twist "M. Night" movies. It helps a little to have seen the previous stories so you know some of the history of the characters, but I am sure you can enjoy it simply by seeing that some of the people already know one another, with small reminders of how. You will sit back and wish all policing could be done the Jesse Stone way - with respect, and a gentle but firm hand, and wish we could live in such a simple world. Jesse is a nice man, his dog is nice and the story is nice. Its the cop show you can watch with your grandmother.

I suppose that's a ridiculous thing to say after what, 9 or 10 films, but you see one Jesse Stone movie, and you want to see others.

I'm a Tom Selleck fan, but as I've written in other reviews, I don't feel this is quite the role for him. He's too one-note. But I do think Selleck, as the main force behind this series, does a wonderful job. Everything is top drawer - the cast, the commitment, the writing, the photography.

And Jesse is an interesting guy, if depressed. The beginning of this particular film was very touching.

This was an excellent episode, maybe the best, as Jesse takes a consultant job in Boston and investigates some serial killings. They have the killer in custody, but he will only admit guilt to the first three, not the fourth. The fourth is identical to the others, and there were details not released to the press.

Jesse also takes on the cause of a young girl in Paradise whose mother is an alcoholic.

Jesse's loneliness, as always, is palpable, as he re-approaches Thelma (Gloria Reuben), only to find she's seeing someone.

Where Selleck gains some traction with this role is with whatever humor there is - there we see a flash of the charm that made him a star. He's always likable, and you're always on his side. Those are two of his gifts - while I think there's more to this character than he can bring, he makes it work for the audience.

Terrific episode.

If you don't understand the context of the title of this review, then you really need to watch the previous 8 movies in this series, hopefully in the correct order. This is a show that lays down a foundation in the very first movie, and then builds on that foundation throughout the series. You get to know the characters, and how they interact in the life of Jesse Stone.

This really is a wonderful, rewarding series, if you take the time to view it as it was meant to be viewed, from 1st to last.

Hopefully we see at least one more Jesse Stone movie from Tom Selleck before he steps down from the role.

Tom Selleck took some time away from Blue Bloods to return to playing a different kind of cop in Jesse Stone: Lost In Paradise. Selleck is on some vacation time and Leslie Hope from the state police homicide squad asks him to look into a murder in his jurisdiction, but to report to her.

Serial killer Luke Perry has the killing of 3 Boston area prostitutes to his account, but has refused to take credit for the fourth killing where the forensics are a match.

Selleck and Perry have a couple of scenes with him questioning the incarcerated Perry who will make your skin crawl in a Hannibal the Cannibal like fashion. Other than the climax these scenes are the acting highlight of the film.

If in fact the forensics match and what Perry says is true, there's only one explanation and its a conclusion that Selleck dreads to arrive at. You'll figure it out early on as well so it won't be that much of a mystery.

There's a whole big difference in playing the brooding loner Jesse Stone and the patriarch of a law enforcement family like the Reagans in Blue Bloods. But that shows Selleck the actor is more than just good.

Nice to see Tom Selleck back as Jesse Stone. Hope there will be more of these in our future.

The Jesse Stone movies are character studies and explore the relationships between the participants. If you're looking for Magnum type glamor and action, forget Jesse Stone.

Selleck is like a fine wine that has improved with age. Lost in Paradise is a quality made for TV movie with adept acting, writing and direction.

Jesse Stone is back on a case involving the death of an escort. Along the way he befriends new people and re-engages with old ones like Gino Fish. We are introduced to people that we come to care about and who are three dimensional.

It may seem slow to some, who want an action film that is faster than a speeding bullet, but for those of us who savor fine acting and characters with depth Lost in Paradise, like the other Jesse Stone films, will fill the bill.