Blue Smoke
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Movie Reviews of Blue Smoke
Movie Review: Blue Smoke is B.S.
Summary: 1 Stars
I hope the book was better, because this movie had an unbelievably terrible script, terrible acting (even from Scott Bakula) - I've rarely heard lines delivered so badly from an ensemble, but not only are the lines ridiculously bad, they're spoken badly, too, by almost every character) - and not much of a mystery. Makes me believe the book was written by a 12-year-old, unless the teleplay was just butchered. The pacing was too slow, the characters were ridiculous (the main character cannot seem to focus on getting out of a "fire maze" alive ... what an idiot; her love interest, Goodnight, follows a ridiculously puerile fairy tale arc; and so on). Ghastly.Movie Review: Above Average Made for TV Film
Summary: 3 Stars
Readers of Nora Roberts books will doubtless want to watch this adaptation of one of her popular novels (to date there are four of her books translated into made for television movies). The story, as adapted by Ronni Kern, is straight forward with enough of a mixture of love scenes and action scenes to please the audience. No, this is not a major league film, but it is made with a fine cast of actors who bring the drama to life.
Reena Hale (Alicia Witt) watched as her family's pizzeria burned to the ground after a scuffle between Reena's father Gib (Eric Keenleyside) and neighbor Joe Pastorelli (David Brown). Pastorelli is convicted of arson and swears to get even. Jump years later and Reena is now an arson investigator under the tutelage of Officer John Minger (Scott Bakula) who had solved the case in Reena's family's loss. Once credentialed, Reena finds herself stalked by an arsonist who just happens to include two of Reena's boyfriends as victims of deaths by fire. The story is a search and destroy mission to discover the identity of the arsonist and Reena is aided by her newest love interest Bo Goodnight (Matthew Settle) in a taut, well paced and well filmed adventure: if the identity of the arsonist is rather apparent early on, that doesn't diminish the suspense aspect of the film.
The supporting cast includes fine actor Talia Shire as Reena's mother, a role that adds a touch of human comedy as well as unconditional love that lifts the story just when it needs grounding, as well as some very fine fresh faces with promise. David Carson directs the many fire scenes with a good sense of 'reality' and delivers a sound message about the worth of arson investigators and firemen. But in the end it is Alicia Witt's movie and she carries her character well. Good entertainment. Grady Harp, September 07
Movie Review: The Book Is Better
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good, entertaining movie, but the book is better. There are several storylines and characters missing, but none that really hurt the storyline. My biggest dissapointment was that they really under-developed the character of Pasterolli, who I believe is one of Robert's best villians in the books.
Characters not included in the movie are Reena's partner, McDonnal, Reena's sister, Bella, as well as Bella's husband, and Reena's ex-boyfriend Luke.
Some of the details have changed, such as the deaths of some of the characters. Though the same characters still die, (I won't say who, for those that haven't read the book,) but they die differently.
The book is more suspenseful then the movie. The movie is good as a stand-alone, but don't expect it to be better then the book.
Movie Review: Good enough to engage your attention, and keep it...
Summary: 4 Stars
"Blue smoke" is a fast paced film, based on a novel of the same name written by Nora Roberts. This movie has ingredients of mystery and romance, and is likely to please those that are just looking for entertainment.
The main character is Reena (Alicia Witt), a young woman that doesn't like fire but decides to turn into an arson investigator in order to fight her fear. Things aren't easy for her, though, as she loses people she cares about to fire. Traumatized, Reena begins to suspect that a pyromaniac is stalking her, waiting to kill the people she loves. But is Reena right, or is her imagination too active?
All in all, I think that "Blue smoke" is a movie you shouldn't miss if you are a fan of Robert's books, and one you will probably like if you are not. From my point of view, this is not an outstanding film, but I believe it is good enough to engage your attention, and keep it. That is the reason why I give "Blue smoke" 3.5 stars.
Belen Alcat
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