Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (TV Movie 2015) Poster

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7/10
Vacation case
bkoganbing17 May 2017
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.
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8/10
"I'm really fond of you, Jesse Stone"
Venge19 November 2018
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.
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8/10
grows on you
blanche-28 June 2016
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.
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7/10
Too easy to solve
pensman18 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I like the Jesse Stone movies probably because I was a fan of the novels: heavy on dialogue, sparse on description. Selleck as writer/collaborator maintained that balance. I don't like the dropping of characters from film to film but that may be because the films are so sporadic and actors need to eat. This entry is slow moving and focuses on Jesse being dissatisfied with the way the "last" victim of a serial killer was put to rest. Jesse battles his usual demons—drink, loneliness, emptiness—and doggedly pursues leads with the aid of a certain disreputable boxing promoter. There are a few toss away scenes with Luke Perry, William Devane, and Kohl Sudduth but that's about it. There is a minor subplot featuring Mackenzie Foy as a troubled teen. But the heart of the story is that the last victim, Mavis, was butchered while she was still alive and Jesse knows even though the serial killings have stopped, Luke Perry wasn't the murderer. In the end you won't be surprised to find out who the guilty party is, just follow the "scrubbed" file to the obvious end. Not the most satisfying film of the series. I did like Steve the dog.
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10/10
The best for last
deram-7796310 June 2018
I enjoyed all 9 movies. I have all 9. I understand they maybe a 10th in the making. I hope so. Much better than most of the garbage on TV today
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7/10
A complex character that's easy to read
mclairforet21 August 2016
It's a good show with complex characters that are easy to read. Their reasons aren't clear, their progress lacking, the emotions constrained and retarded. People move on from divorce, death, loss of children, and bad things that happen to them. We want them to. We need them to. If they don't they just become boring and tiresome. Jesse needs to move on from his wife, get over himself, find a love interest that inspires him and allow him to stop feeling so sorry for himself all the time. He needs a good laugh, a smile, something that makes you want to share his life with him instead of yell at the screen, "get over it and move on!"

The production value is great. Too much emphasis on dogs. Too many lines repeated over and over. It's a 165 page script with 135 pages of dialog without the repetition. If he focused on Jesse Stone he could easily do two of these a year and have all the life he wanted instead of commuting to NY from LA. In fact, he could shoot them in British Columbia instead of Nova Scotia. I enjoy a good mystery, and at least these hold suspense throughout and don't give away who the bad guy is until the last 10 minutes. All in all, this series needs focus and directed attention and it could be one of the better, if not the best show on TV.
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10/10
Well worth watching!
ANNEEZ220 October 2015
I wasn't sure Hallmark could pull off a non-censored Jesse Stone (the ones repeated from CBS had the occasional editing), but they did. The story was unhurried, but that is to be expected of all the Jesse Stone tales. Tom Selleck and the Brandmans have continued the themes started years ago by Robert Parker. Tom Selleck is still at his best, and the supporting characters are great. And Steve (Ned the Dog) was wonderful. I'm really glad to have Jesse Stone back. We folks who don't fit the commercial demographic (we're the ones that like Longmire, too) still like quality television. But I also hope the producers get hold of a couple of the other Jesse Stone books, as they would make great episodes.
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6/10
Opinions of a binge watcher
jaketidmore30 September 2021
Okay....have plowed thru 1st 8 films in series and spent many a moment in the last 4 films hearing my wife & I mimic the same lines and responses that continue to be used from one film to the next.

If there was any major difference in the psychiatrist vs Jessie scenes used in these shows then pat the bed for the dog, have a donut, bet on Jesse chasing a new skirt, watch more booze get poured into the glass, and get ready for more conversations that probably use a total of no more than 12 words. These thinly written interchanges went through their routines like tired dancers hanging on to each other before the bar closes.

And did somebody say that Selleck was acting?? Puh-lease! Care to guess how much of his face time on the show is spent scowling? Must be his "coply intuition" at its inscrutable best.

So, why do I give the whole series a 6, especially after casting my pearls before the swine? As so many said - Tom Selleck. Which is also why Hasty Hathaway said to Stone (in every show they were together). "I'm very fond of you.... Jesse."

So, other than some pseudo-intellectual ramblings about politics, most of the reviews helped me reach the six mark. Which is giving credit to Selleck for taking a mediocre, poorly written series and pulling it up by its jockstrap into a B-level contender. Having about as much punch as the fighters sparring in Gino's dining room/fighting hall.

Er, I meant bootstrap.... Jesse.

BTW.... Jesse....were you too good for Rose or was she not good enough for you??
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10/10
His role of a lifetime
boon2328 January 2016
I truly missed Jesse Stone and was sad, when the rumors were up for no other movies. But now he is back and he is back in all the wonderful, slow, atmospheric glory I could have hoped for.

I loved everything about Lost In Paradise, first of all Tom Selleck's wonderful acting,the great cinematography, the superb score, the well known and always great cast and of course Steve.

The case after 2 years of "fighting crime" was an interesting one and interesting enough for Jesse to fight his loneliness and his search for meaning.

If you haven't watched any Jesse Stone movies, give them chance, start at the beginning and enjoy all the way through.

This is emotional crime drama at its best.
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6/10
MIXED FEELINGS
r-angle12 July 2018
I have mixed feelings about these Jesse Stone movies. First, Robert B. Parker knew how to structure a mystery. But I get tired of Jesse feeling sorry for himself and drinking too much. Such a worn-down, hackneyed cliche and such a lame use of that cliche. Other shows have done it better. And I doubt if lovely young women are drawn to Jesse. He's way older and he has that hang-dog expression. How is that appealing? Do they want to rescue him from being pathetic? How is that appealing? But I do love Jesse's humanity. In one episode (this one, perhaps), Jesse rescues a teenage girl from her boozing mother. Nicely done. Good for you, Jesse. That is appealing, to me, at least. Like any good detective, Jesse sticks to an investigation until he solves the mystery. That is satisfying. Always. Saves the series from obscurity. Overall, I give the Jesse Stone series a C+. Watchable but not essential.
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9/10
My favorite Jesse Stone movie.
sandyntera20 October 2015
Unlike the first reviewer, I felt the introspection and inner struggles portrayed by the plot through Tom Sellect were brilliant and compelling. The sub-plots with the dog, Steve, and the troubled young girl were engaging and poignant, adding much to deepen the characterization of Jesse and the overall enjoyment of the movie. I seldom rate movies above 6/10 but this is one of my favorite Jesse Stone movies, perhaps my top favorite, and it sits very high in my all-time movie ratings.

I'm very anxious to see if this quality and depth of character can prevail throughout the next 7 movies, which I absolutely will be sure to watch.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and Tom Selleck's talent for writing and acting is superb!!
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7/10
At first, I thought it was the husband
rodney_h19 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Interesting final episode of the Jesse Stone series. I knew as soon as Jesse told Dr. Dix "I lost my conscience" that Reggie had died. As a huge animal lover, that made me truly sad. So, in just a few scenes later when we see Reggie's tombstone by the oceanside bench I wasn't surprised; just saddened once again. Therefore, later when Jesse took in Steve, I was both relieved and glad.

I found Lost In Paradise quite good but I was missing Stephen McHattie as Captain Healy and Saul Rubinek as Hasty Hathaway. Their absence detracted from an otherwise good story which also could have used a little more of the unique banter between Jesse and Gino Fish (played by the great William Sadler). The one thing I truly disliked about Lost In Paradise is it is the last episode of the wonderful Jesse Stone movies we will probably ever see. I have all nine of them in my collection but I do wish there were more.
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5/10
Unremarkable
nobodyjohnsmithnobody27 January 2016
If the 7.8 rating and reviews on this site are to be believed then this is one of the greatest films ever made. Of course I don't believe everything I read. I was curious and decided to check it out.

I had never watched any of the Jesse Stone Series. I knew this was a low budget television film and my expectations were not high.

I liked Tom Selleck's character. He always knows the right thing to say. The overall acting in this film wasn't the worst I've seen. The directing and the plot is slow at times and it just doesn't seem convincing.

This is a substandard film. Then again I have been watching a lot of dross recently. My last review on here was of 'Knock Knock' (Keanu Reeves) and this is not as bad as that idiotic pile of poo.

This film will probably end up on Channel 5, in the early hours when nobody is awake to watch it. It wasn't very memorable.
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10/10
How to get the Jesse Stone series.
dlapointe2917 November 2015
I absolutely love this series. Tom Selleck is one of my favorite actors. He is the most realistic, down to earth actors I've seen.You can download Jesse Stone series on Torrentz and watch them online. You can also stream the movies through pi-media and watch it on your television. I hope there will be more to come. Unfortunately, it will no longer be set in Nova Scotia Canada. It's a pity because the scenic aspect adds to the movies. It's without a doubt the most enjoyable drama that I've seen in a long time. The movies are similar to "Longmire" with Robert Taylor. This is another drama produced in a western setting.
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10/10
Its the simplicity that is enjoyable.
frank-340-83183027 January 2016
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.
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9/10
Oh how I've missed my Jesse Stone!
dogsavvy5 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Some might consider this to be a spoiler so reader be aware.

I was so eager to see this movie & was really startled at how slow & dry the beginning was HOWEVER it was necessary to set the tone & put the viewer in the same proverbial boat with Jesse. It was very clever & made me start feeling antsy for the action the same as the character. Well done... very well done. This story had layers & depth. This story had some major ups & downs & Jesse continues to struggle which makes him flawed & so very lovable. Love Steve.

I DVR-ed this movie & have watched it multiple times. I will be at the store the day this comes out on video (I HOPE for Christmas). I can't get enough of Jesse Stone. Tom Selleck gives a brilliant performance. I believe Robert B. Parker would be very pleased & they've stayed true to the character.

I CAN NOT WAIT for the next one! Good job Hallmark & thank you for giving Jesse Stone a well deserved & perfectly executed home. The Jesse Stone series of movies is my favorite. You gained a loyal viewer from this fan.
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9/10
Lost in Paradise contiues the saga of Jesse Stone
williamrayj23 January 2017
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.
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3/10
Same format as all the others
keithfmanaton24 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Selleck & co have boiled the books down to a bland repetitive format which dulls the senses. Drink, dog, simply wise but tortured lines from the main character, worthy side story, main story about murderer who got away with it initially, drink, unrequited love interest, Quips about phone & car, sex with very younger more sophisticated powerful woman, drink, show no affection to dog, meet gang boss for information, resolve local social aware case, set trap for killer, drink, kill perb' with one shot, drink, fading sunset scene with dog, repeat again and again. YAWN.
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10/10
Consistency .....
lauramcgaffey13 September 2022
IMHO, making changes in sequels is usually the death of a series.

What makes the Jesse Stone series work is the maintenance of all the characterizations, from Jesse to the least recurring character, of all the tag lines, of the music, and even of the naming of characters.

Regarding character names, did anyone else notice that "Amelia's" last name is Hope which is the last name of the actress who plays Sydney Greenstreet? Of course, Sydney Greenstreet is the name of an actor who portrayed major roles in Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon, both starring Humphrey Bogart, Bogart's character in both movies being somewhat unhappy loners.

"Amelia's" restaurant is named, Rose Cafe which is the actress's middle name, her full name being Amelia Rose Blaire.

BTW, the actress, Maria Brooks, who plays Sandy in "Jesse Stone: Night Passage" directed a 1999 one hour docudrama called, "The Odyssey of Captain Healy" about the real life Coast Guard Captain Mike Healy. Healy is of course the name of Captain Healy, State Police Homicide Commander played by Stephen McHattie, who is in Paradise Lost only off screen.

I do not believe the Jesse Stone franchise would have had more than two movies if they had messed with everything just for the sake of messing with everything. As we say in the engineering field, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
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10/10
Where can you rent or BUY this movie????
yakmaster26 October 2015
1. Why in the heck did Selleck put this on a channel that a LOT of cable providers don't carry. 2 Why can't you RENT this movie ANYWHERE?? 3. Why can't you purchas this movie ANYWHERE? Does anybody out there know WHO HAS this movie, Where I can rent it PLEASE!!!

Come ON...HELP,HELP I have looked everywhere to see this... I have looked on Amazon, VUDU, EVERYWHERE you rent online (REDBOX) and no information on this;. Why Mr. Selleck??? This is the best role you have ever played, and as many people who follow this, and you put it on the HALMARK CHANNEL, a CHANNEL that FEW cable companies have, and to add insult to injury, even IF you can find it on cable,
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10/10
Few Series make me sit through an episode without a break.
pie-783516 June 2021
Jesse Stone is superb, Tom Selleck makes it magnetic. The script is always minimal but perfectly so. The whole connection of the cast with their short but important input create a solid storyline whereby you become connected also.

I rarely put on any film/drama and just sit back prepared to watch it all from start to finish without a disturbance - i/e I don't make a coffee or grab a beer.

One of life's pleasures.
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9/10
The Best of Jesse Stone.
mrmac-425613 May 2019
I have watched all 9 of the Jesse Stone movies and, for me, this one is the best. Tom Selleck brings this flawed whiskey and coffee loving police chief to life in a way that I don't think anyone else could. An alcoholic with a broken marriage behind him somehow comes across as a very decent human being with real compassion for those that he tries to help. Taking time to help a young girl with an alcoholic mother was a nice touch. I loved his interactions with his new dog as he tries to find out what he likes to eat. Jesse is a man that many men can identify with. There is a pace and realism in this series that was lacking in many police dramas. I am really looking forward to Jesse Stone's next adventure.
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5/10
Not unwatchable...
mugwumpcylinder19 November 2020
I've liked Tom ever since Magnum. He would have made a fine Indiana Jones as he has far more personal charisma than Ford - maybe one of the few you could easily imagining in different roles. Sadly the 'Stone' series is watchable, but rather lame, and they even keep repeating the same somewhat clever lines and plots as the last.

Too bad Tom never really got the outstanding writers he deserved. He might have soared as Indiana Jones, but can't rescue this series of mediocre turds.

As a rating I would give them an: okay.

Watchable but not really good.
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10/10
The Best of the Best... Best Jesse Stone yet
dwbaron7 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I have always enjoyed watching the Jesse Stone movies, I had not seen the last one till today. I had the first 7 on DVD and watched on TV as they came out., Seen #8 Benefit Of the Doubt on TV back in 2012. When #9 Lost in Paradise came out on DVD a few months ago I got it as well as Benefit of the Doubt on DVD. Over the weekend and today Monday I watched all nine. Must start with Night Passage for new viewers, Watch Stone Cold second. Its a better way of watching. This with out a Doubt was the BEST OF THE BEST of all nine. Okay Spoiler so stop reading now if you have not seen it yet. At the beginning of #9 I was sad to see no Joe / Reggie the dog. I had to stop viewing and I looked up and seen where Reggie died in June 11th 2013...I was glad they wrote a way for Jesse to get a new dog STEVE... The story line Jenny O'Neill Mackenzie Foy was very touching. Gloria Reuben looked amazing. I only hope they will continue to make more on this series..
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8/10
There's nothing in Paradise for Jesse, he's definitely lost.
Reno-Rangan14 October 2016
Here I'm in the ninth and the final film of the Jesse Stone series made for television based on the characters created by Robert B. Parker. For now this is the last film, but the series is not over yet. There's no official announcement for the next film either, but I'm hoping for another one would make its way very soon. It came after a two years of gap when the series was in a bad position, so its fans thought the series is done and dusted. And then this new film hit the jackpot with a tag as the best in the series. But I've a different opinion...

Now there's only two left in the PPD. There's no big cases to work with for Jesse, so that is why it's called 'Lost in Paradise'. He leaves behind Luther to handle all the troubles in the paradise which is actually minor ones. Meanwhile, he travels to Boston looking for some unsolved cases from his new boss. There he finds an open case, about a series of murders, where the killer was caught and confessed, but who declined one of the murder that's very similar to his trademark.

So like we know, Jesse starts to dig it deeper by gathering information from people related to the victim. This is a drag part, but it very much needed for the story to develop and particularly that gives the feel like the actual Jesse Stone film we're familiar with so far. Like most of the detective stories, this series never focused on just one crime event to solve, but multiple. So in this as well, the main crime solving theme had more space on the narration, but the minor one like a domestic violence, we can say child abuse was another side of the narration. That's where Mackenzie Foy comes in.

Jesse somehow manages to figure it out how the final victim died in his Boston ripper case. If you know Jesse Stone about how he deals with them, then you would know how it's going to end. But who's the suspect and reason for doing such thing revealed in the last quarter. The romance part of his life as well takes a twist. Since he got into Paradise nothing seemed serious, but here he's trying to move on as he's getting old. So it did not go as he planned, or expected. But that did not stop him to do his work or his rhythm of the life never disturbed.

"The murders have stopped. That seems to be enough for a lot of people."

There's no Reggie. I always concerned about him, he should have been in a family that has children, but Jesse did his best to take care of him. Now another version of Reggie is here called Steve. His story seems more sentimental, particularly in one scene, definitely anybody would feel that heart wrecking reaction the Steve had given. If you ever had a dog, sure you will do. There are some lines that were repeated throughout the series, some would find it as a signature, but some might get annoyed. I was annoyed by the ex- wife's series phone calls, since the story had no intention to reveal her completely. Otherwise, I would have had not problem with such developments.

The film was good, that does not mean this is the best one in the series as many people consider. For me, the first three were great, especially 'Death in Paradise' is my pick of the series. After those, then comes this one, but it was overwhelmingly received when it was aired on the television with a record breaking viewership. For that reason alone another film should come. I'm not a Jesse Stone fan as I thought in the beginning of the series, but still I want this to get going. Because good or bad, kind of addictive.

Not the writing that I'm very impressed with, but Tom Selleck was why I'm hooked to it. The series saw ups and downs, but his phenomenal performances saved the many occasions throughout the series. The series also saw lots of changes in the supporting roles, but a very few managed to remain till now and those were like Luther, Dr. Dix, et cetera. The theme music, I still hear in my mind wherever I see a poster of the films or a picture of Selleck. Like many say, he is born to play that role and I believe as what he said that he's not finished with the Jesse Stone character,

Whatever, I'm happy this got all uplift needed for this franchise. The screenplay as well to give a little credit for that, because of the holding a suspense for a decent time. That means, at some point you would able guess the twist, but how it ends like in scenes was unpredictable. I think, I enjoyed so far of the series, so bring it on a new sequel. And finally, the final scene was very emotional. A big move from the Jesse, but it was the right thing to do, as well as the film to end on a high.

8/10
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