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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
When he emerged from film school in the mid-1980s, director Phil Joanou was touted as the next Steven Spielberg, perhaps because Spielberg took him on as a protégé briefly. Since then, it's been "Phil who?" thanks to a series of mediocre thrillers like this one. Based on one of a series of novels by James Lee Burke about a troubled ex-cop named Dave Robicheaux, this film sat on the shelf for a couple of years before finally being released in 1995. Alec Baldwin plays Robicheaux, a recovering alcoholic who has put life on the New Orleans police department behind him--until a plane crashes in the lake next to his house. He rescues a young Central American girl from the wreck and adopts her--and winds up involved in a gumbo of drug running and dirty dealing involving an old pal named Bubba. Tip-off that this movie should have gone straight to video: Bubba is played by Eric Roberts. Redeeming feature (at least for men, who are all dogs, as everyone knows): a Teri Hatcher nude scene. --Marshall Fine
Heaven's Prisoners [Region 2] Reviews:
Not worth watching 
2009-10-01 - I don't know why they made this. I read elsewhere the director split before the movie was done. They just stopped and the producer, who didn't like the director, did the final edit, and it shows. Very poor casting all around. The only good scene was the airplane crash, and that isn't saying much! Probably will go in the trash. Watch "In the Electric Mist" with Tommy Lee Jones instead, if you like James Lee Burke and Dave R.
Pleasantly sordid 
2009-09-17 - Some may be surprised at the 5-star rating, but let's be honest, we enjoy most movies for sheer entertainment and escapism, not erudition. And to the contrary, the 'exposure' scene is NOTHING compared to the overall smoking, steamy tenor of this movie that practically drips from the eyes of Ms. Hatcher and Ms. Masterson, who have no trouble inflicting maximum interest with their clothes completely on. Between the lush, bayou atmospheres and the rampant sensuality, you are then left to enjoy a reasonably interesting crime story, peppered with noirish violence, acts of revenge, mob intrigue, and the generally overtly masculine behaviors of Mr. Roberts and Mr. Baldwin (among others), saying and doing things you just can't get away with in real life, or not for long. So on all these multiple escapist levels, I found it all quite satisfying, as did my girlfriend. It's been popping up on cable recently and we watch it every time. Now I'm going to buy it for what, $5.79? Two thumbs, way up!
Great Flick
2009-06-23 - This film is vastly underrated. This is some of Alec Baldwin's best work and the storyline is riveting. By the way, Miss Fine, all men are not dogs.
I Did This Backward! 
2009-05-29 - I saw the 2009 release, IN THE ELECTRIC MIST, with Tommy Lee Jones & John Goodman BEFORE I saw this film. This one was made in 1995, and you see a very slim Alec Baldwin. Teri Hatcher gives a really quiet, powerful performance as the wife of a 'local bad guy' (Eric Roberts) and more than carries the role. She excels in the time she has on the screen. Poor Ms. Lynch gets offed early on so she isn't around for the ending. I won't tell you how it ends!
Once again the real star is Louisiana. This film was made BEFORE Katrina so you see homes and businesses that are no longer there. I found that haunting and sad. The story line is full of holes. They want us to believe a little El Salvadorian child (who speaks no English) can survive a plane crash and go live with Alec & Kelly and no one in 'The Parish' is gonna notice or say anything. Yeah, right. That was the thing about the film that struck a totally phony note. Otherwise, I loved the movie. Everyone was menacing and scary. The lighting was dark and mysterious. The bars and apartments were straight out of an Ann Rice novel. Spooky.
Then you have the new one, IN THE ELECTRIC MIST where Tommy Lee Jones plays the Alec Baldwin role and John Goodman plays the Eric Roberts role. Yeah, I can see that casting. Not. Since I am a fan of all four actors, I can't say which one is better in the roles. Tommy Lee just IS the character. Alec was too young and pretty. Which was why I liked it. But if you're talking Cajun Country you ain't talkin' pretty boys, darlin'. They got real men down there who don't check the mirror when they leave the house to make sure every hair is in place.
I could watch this film every night just to 'feel' the bayou, the land, the water, the ambiance, the soul of Louisiana. I do hope they make TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN. It's Burke's homage to Hurricane Katrina and would make a truly wonderful film. Let's cast Tommy Lee in that one again. But let's find someone else to play Bubba. Don't like watching John Goodman play the bad guy. He's too sweet a guy in real life.
Really enjoyed this film.
Heaven's Prisoners
2009-03-11 - Excellent movie.. I had been looking for this movie for a long time.. Got it on Amazon at a great price. Amazon is the place to be...
