HTF DVD REVIEW: Jesse Stone Sea Change

Kevin EK · 02-04-2008, 04:52 AM

JESSE STONE
SEA CHANGE

Studio: Sony
Original Release: 2007
Length: 1 hour 27 mins
Genre: Mystery/Drama

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic
Color/B&W: Color

Audio:

English Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles: English
Rating: Not Rated (Television Movie originally aired on CBS)

Release Date: February 26, 2008

Rating: 3/5 /

Starring: Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Rebecca Pidgeon, Sean Young, Mika Boorem, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler, Saul Rubinek and William Devane

Based upon the novel “Sea Change” by Robert B. Parker
Screenplay by: Ronni Kern
Directed by: Robert Harmon

Jesse Stone Sea Change is the latest in a series of CBS television movies featuring Sheriff Jesse Stone as played by Tom Selleck. It’s a standard television mystery from the old school, meaning that there is a much greater emphasis on character and deeper story, and very little in the way of flash. There’s a little action here and there, to be sure, but most of this film is centered on Tom Selleck’s performance as the alcoholic and downbeat Stone. The mysteries tackled in this film are interesting (a cold case regarding a bank robbery, and a current case regarding the proclivities of a rich yacht owner) although apparently not as intricate as those in the earlier films in this series. (And I should note for Robert B. Parker fans that the plot of this film is apparently quite different from the original novel.) There is a definite pleasure to be had watching Selleck interact with a fairly deep cast that includes William Devane, Kathy Baker, Rebecca Pidgeon and a sultry Sean Young.

The DVD of the telefilm contains the movie with no special dressing or features.

VIDEO QUALITY: 3/5

Jesse Stone Sea Change is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer that, at its best shows some good detail and some satisfyingly atmospheric Canadian vistas. Some shots are a little softer than others, but they are balanced out by close-ups of the cast that show every whisker and every wrinkle. Given that this is a lower budget telefilm, the transfer looks fine and even very good in places.

AUDIO QUALITY: 3/5

Jesse Stone Sea Change is presented in an English 5.1 Dolby Digital mix that primarily lives in the front channels. The piano score makes its way to the rear channels, as do the occasional atmospheric sounds. During the occasional action or gunfire, the mix becomes a little more loud and active, but the vast majority of the film focuses the sound on the dialogue.

I am not including the usual section for Special Features, as the only thing on the disc apart from the telefilm itself is a trio of previews for other Sony product: Comanche Moon, Damages Season 1 and Blonde Ambition.

Subtitles are available in English. A standard chapter menu is included for quick reference.

IN THE END...

Jesse Stone Sea Change is a pretty satisfying mystery, particularly for fans of an earlier era of television mysteries. Fans of Tom Selleck will also enjoy this telefilm. It's a different role for Selleck, and it's a nice way to see him, along with many other favorites from earlier films and television series.

Kevin Koster
February 3, 2007.

jamoon2006 · 02-04-2008, 08:49 AM

Thanks for the review. As a fan of the Parker novels, I have really enjoyed the Jesse Stone series of TV movies. Though not an obvious choice, Selleck has really made the character his own, and the films are a kind of old-school throwback to the great TV mysteries of the 70s. Sea Change is the only one of the films I missed when it aired on TV, so I'm ready to pick this one up.

I would definitely suggest this or any of the others in the series (Stone Cold, Night Passage, Death in Paradise) for people looking for an old-fashioned, character driven, noir-influenced mystery.



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