Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006 TV Movie) User Reviews

This one was merely okay, the twist was somewhat unsubtle and sudden

[JWJanneck · 6/10 · 2 October 2008]

I like the Jesse Stone series---with generally very good acting, good production values, atmospheric photography and good direction, they are head and shoulders above average TV fare (I could do without the corny freeze-frame cuts, though). Selleck delivers an excellent performance, and his supporting cast turns in some fine acting as well. The movies are a bit formulaic: some big crime mixed with a human interest piece that Chief Stone usually handles by threatening someone or beating someone up, plus a romantic interest, usually the first reasonably attractive woman to walk onto the screen (although this time it was the second---my money initially was on the dog owner, but she wasn't it). However, the small-town atmosphere comes across nicely, the plots are reasonably complex, and the human interest story lines provide some intermittent satisfaction and an opportunity for Selleck to show another side of his character.

SPOILERS! The one problem I had with this installment is that its resolution is somewhat sudden, and also not a little corny. Even though a viewer might have guessed it (it was pretty clear that the false suspect would turn out to be misdirection), the piece of evidence providing the crucial insight is delivered a few seconds before the final showdown (unless I missed a clue at the false suspect's maritime experience before then), and then it's a few seconds of high noon in a warehouse and that was it: game over.

Still, not the worst way to spend 90 minutes or so, which you probably have discovered for yourself already, otherwise you hopefully wouldn't read this spoiler-ridden review.

Another Simple, Credible and Effective Police Story

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 29 July 2007]

When the body of a fourteen years old teenager is found in the margin of the river in Paradise, Massachusetts, the Chief of Police Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) and his officer Simpson (Kohl Sudduth) seek clues in the spot. Through a graduation ring of a student that they find nearby the corpse, they identity the dead girl, the local slut Billy Bishop. Meanwhile, his department deals with a domestic violent situation with an aggressive and abusive husband that beats his wife. Along his investigation, Stone discloses that the famous writer Norman Shaw (Gary Masaraba) was too much close to the victim and intended to write the biography of the famous gangster Leo in his next book. Joining the pieces of evidences like a puzzle, Stone unravels the identity of the criminal.

"Death in Paradise" is the second excellent movie that I see with Tom Selleck in the role of Chief Jesse Stone. Both films show simple, credible and effective police stories, with great performances, magnificent cinematography and realistic screenplays. Jesse Stone seems to be tailored to Tom Selleck, who is perfect in the role of the cynical, stubborn and flawed but fair chief of police. I believe this character deserves a TV series, so good these stories are. I have just seen in IMDb that there are two other movies of this character, unfortunately not released in Brazil. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Crimes no Paraiso 2" ("Crimes in Paradise 2")

Great character studies; so-so murder mystery

[beardouk · 7/10 · 15 March 2008]

I thought the characterisation, especially of Stone, were very good. Selleck had the right air of a good man with problems. Molly and Suitcase were good support in the force. The relationship between Stone and Lily Summers seemed a little strange but Orla Brady was pleasant and gave the impression that there was a lot hidden below the surface.

William Devane and Stephen McHattie were underused.

The murder mystery was somewhat flimsy - especially the ending. Stone works out the killer based on knots. (And Shaw doesn't look like an experienced yachtsman, to me !) Of course, he has absolutely no evidence. In a 1960s detective show, the villain would have broken down and confessed in front of a room of witnesses. We aren't that unrealistic now. Instead, the villain's henchman accidentally shoots his boss saving Stone the trouble of proving that he planned the murder. Then Stone has to kill the henchman (who had actually committed the murder) - in self-defence of course.

That's two guys that Stone shoots in self-defence.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the movie. Definitely above average.

I'd be interesting in reading the book to compare the two.

Another good mystery

[vchimpanzee · 10 May 2006]

In this latest Jesse Stone movie based on a novel by Robert B. Parker, a teenage girl's badly decomposed body is found in a lake wearing one shoe and tied to a concrete block. A class ring found at the scene points to a star athlete at an exclusive prep school where Dr. Lily Summers (Orla Brady) is the headmistress.

The Bishops may be the parents of the missing girl. They have one other daughter, Emily, who is known to be alive and well. The father is very demanding and cares what people think. Up until she went to the prep school, Billie was an A student, but something happened when she changed schools.

Chief Stone sees visions of the dead girl, both while sleeping and when he is awake, but this is pointless and never means anything.

Meanwhile, Chief Stone must deal with an abusive husband (John Diehl) whose wife won't leave because she's Catholic, she has kids, and no real job skills.

What makes this movie work is Selleck's usual fine performance of a character who is intelligent and determined yet stubborn and flawed. While most of the actors are good, another standout performance comes from William Devane as a therapist Stone's ex-wife recommends to help him stop drinking--a former cop who lost his job and his wife to his own alcohol problem. Another standout performance comes from the actor playing the Boston businessman with a bad reputation and a goon named Lovey.

Officer Crane (Viola Davis) recalls how her sister was in a coma before she died. Other cast members in the series include Vito Rezza as Officer D'Angelo, Kohl Sudduth as Officer 'Suitcase' Simpson and Stephen McHattie as Detective Healy of Boston.

The violence is minimal for most of the movie, though there is some blood in a couple of scenes. The language is stronger than one might normally hear on network TV, but not quite like 'NYPD Blue'.

I liked the traditional jazz music played at the fund-raiser hosted by author Norman Shaw (Gary Basaraba).

There will be more Jesse Stone movies, and I look forward to them.

Vehicle for Tom. Robert Parker's bruh?

[gina-95739 · 6/10 · 14 July 2022]

Look, this isn't a great dramatic film. It won't have you on the edge of your seat. The script is clunky. The dialogue is stilted at times. It didn't transfer well from Robert Parker's novel to the screenplay. Tom is clearly still discovering who his character is.

Regardless of these things ... Tom Selleck is just a likeable guy. Women (and men) want to be with him. Guys want to be him. Since he is so well-liked and relatable, you'll find yourself ignoring flaws and going along for the ride.

This story doesn't rely on blood and guts here. The plot is actually driven by Tom's character's demons which is what really saves it.

Viola Davis could be in a toothpaste ad and still give an Oscar performance. That woman is a force.

This is a movie that's worth the time if all your looking for is a decent story with some decent acting that doesn't make you feel like completely wasted your time and you're tired of gratuitous violence, sex, and the deviant and dysfunctional.

Truly sad cases

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 6 December 2016]

A couple of truly sad cases come across the desk of police chief Jesse Stone of Paradise, Massachusetts. The first involves the appearance of the body of a 14 year old girl who had been in the water for a few weeks. The second is an ongoing domestic dispute between an abusive husband and his battered wife.

Patient and methodical as always Tom Selleck gets the job done. The domestic couple is John Diehl and Debra Christofferson who steals acting honors here in a scene with Selleck where she talks sadly about how few options she has in life other than stay in this relationship with this dirtbag. One of Selleck's officers is nearly killed because of the volatility of the situation.

The second after long search because she was never reported missing turns out to be Mae Whitman whom we see in flashback. She was the school tramp for the past couple of years. Again someone you can weep for because had she lived she would have had a really horrible life with lots of issues. Of no help is her parents especially her father who actually kicked her out of the house. She was also a few weeks pregnant.

Going through her relationships is what eventually leads Selleck to a conclusion he was supposed to arrive at. But actually it's the knot that came loose that allowed her body to rise is what ultimately leads him to her murderer.

A fine film with one bad slice of humanity for Stone to deal with.

Jessie/Billie

[jcappy · 7/10 · 11 July 2023]

"Death in Paradise," though not without gun play, is fairly subdued. Chief Stone is perhaps more pensive than usual--and certainly more soulful. Jesse seems depressed and saddened by a wider culture that diminishes and sexualizes young girls, by a father who turns away his own daughters, and by a wife batterer--all in his little town of Paradise. To compound this, his own losses seem to come to the fore, making felt visits to the gruff, thought-provoking Dr. Dix mandatory.

Perhaps, these are what underpin Jesse's unusual dreams, visions, and personal incidentals that seem to put him in direct contact with the local murder victim, Billie Bishop, an upper-income youth who suddenly switches from brilliant student to drugs, indiscriminate sex, and dropout status. Hers is the tragic story of so many runaway girls. And Jesse has another connection to Billie: they arrived in Paradise, a very unlikely place for both, at about the same time, and both were over-qualified and undoubtedly viewed somewhat suspiciously by the locals.

So the childless, wife-less, career-less, college-less, mother-less Chief Stone will not rest until Billie's murderer/user is apprehended. That this man turns out to be two separate men, one a pederast and the other a cold killer, means not only that Stone's perfect cop-ly intuition is, in part, mistaken, but that his justice work for Billie is suddenly jeopardized. But wedded to his sympathetic stand with Billie, a solution must out. And in short order, the confounding knot from the crime scene turns out to be the knot that ties up his murder case. His case closed, Jesse is shown attending Billie Bishop's solitary grave, as he had done the same for his close woman friend, Abigail Taylor, in an opening scene. And at the fade out, Jesse is at the bedside of his comatose sidekick Luther (who has been shot by the wife batterer in the sub-plot) reading to him the bio of their baseball hero, Suitcase Simpson. A bluesy installment indeed, this "Death in Paradise."

Selleck fits character perfect

[blambert-3 · 10/10 · 11 June 2007]

This is the third in the Jesse Stone movie series and I thought it was the best. Selleck is just perfect as the flawed, but honorable main character. What makes this series so good is what others have written; the pacing of the films is thoughtful; the characters are adult and complex; it has plot and intelligence over car crashes and special effects though it has action and romance in it to be sure. You like Selleck's character instantly and his scenes with his other officers,the State Police Detective and the shrink he see's about his drinking, are all terrific.

In the special features on Stone Cold Selleck says people have a 'hunger' for this type of adult entertainment where plot and story are more important than rapid fire visuals--and that is so true. It's surprising how good this series is--it's way better than 95% of what's in the theaters. Tom Selleck in a really good cop movie or Pirates of the Caribbean part IV--it's no contest.

Tom Selleck is Jesse Stone

[kaquigg · 10/10 · 9 May 2006]

I enjoyed watching the movie and have currently finished reading the next Jesse Stone book. Hooray for TV movies that are of the quality of big screen movies with well written, defined, true to life characters. Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone is my hero as he struggles with problems of work, alcohol, and loneliness as we all do. The story deals with the subject of child abuse and the resulting trauma that some people try to sweep under the rug or ignore rather than deal with which in this story results in a murder of an abused child. The other returning actors are great as the friends and co-workers who provide their own story lines interweaving with Selleck's.

another great television movie with Tom Selleck in the role he was born to play

[TheUnknown837-1 · 10/10 · 1 December 2007]

Like the film before this one, "Jesse Stone: Night Passage", "Death in Paradise" is a flawless, highly entertaining television movie that is so powerful and so realistic that it almost looks like something you would have to go see in the theaters. When a low-budget television show becomes that, then you know that you are really looking at a true masterpiece of film-making. I've seen big budget Hollywood mysteries that weren't as good as this. It stars Tom Selleck in another fabulous performance as Chief Jesse Stone, a troubled cop in a small town called Paradise on the eastern seaboard if I'm not mistaken.

What I liked a lot about "Death in Paradise" was how it didn't just focus on one single case by itself. Instead of just Tom Selleck and his team trying to solve the main mystery, the death of a girl, they also tries to handle a second case at the same time, which enhances the power and overall authentistic atmosphere of the movie.

I'll keep my review short and just end it by stating that "Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise" is like "Night Passage" and the sequel after this one, "Sea Change", a fantastic mystery movie and a delightful discovery to find. It's really impressive that a movie this magnificent could have been made on such a small budget, if it was. Most television movies are like that, but I can't be sure. If it was made on a higher budget, I can believe it. It's highly recommended by me.

"Getting sober is cold b*****d work."

[Alba_Of_Smeg · 13 September 2020]

Death In Paradise (2006) is familiar and easy to watch but definitely not as entertaining as the previous two movies. The usual cast are all good and our overqualified police chief Jesse does what he does so well. The climactic confrontation at the end starts off well but soon gets predictable and rather silly. Shame really.

👍 William Devane's first appearance as psychiatrist Dr. Dix. 👍 John Diehl & Debra Christofferson are brilliant as the wife beater and punch bag couple. 👎 Orla Brady as Dr. Lilly Summers, wasn't a fan of the performance. 👎 I found the domestic abuse subplot FAR more interesting than the murder. 👎 The ending is very convenient and typical for a TV movie.

Very entertaining for what it is...simplicity is key.

[aequitas_veritas_007 · 8/10 · 24 December 2013]

I will start off by saying the overall simple style and dialogue of this made for TV movie make it a success. It is a guys version of Hallmark/Lifetime movies, with a length that is not too long to hold a viewers interest. As this is the third Jesse Stone movie, and the second that I have seen, I am glad that the supporting characters returned to keep the bond they have created up. The set locations are amazingly rural and real, although some of the cheesy freeze frames during commercial transitions could have been handled better.

The story remains as entertaining as Jesse Stone: Stone Cold. Stone's direct, no bull approach is cool to watch. The story line is a tough one to touch on national television and be appropriate, but they did a good job. The "plot twist" was simple and more of a "when are they going to realize what is going on" versus the "I have no idea, surprise me" type. The sub-stories about Stone's alcoholism could been left out, they didn't really contribute to anything. I am a fan of this series and can't wait to watch the rest, but I would not say it is worth buying on DVD. A single viewing should do ya.

A good thriller

[Bone3011 · 8/10 · 25 March 2021]

Not a bad thriller. Jesse Stone's character is slowly being built.

There is not much new in the film, slow but well made.

Very good

[SanteeFats · 8/10 · 2 February 2014]

Another very well done Jesse Stone movie. A dead 14 year old, pregnant teen found floating in a Paradise pond leads to some very revealing scenarios. Turns out the girl has turned into a slut after she switches to a news school. As the film progresses Jesse finds out that the accused, a well known writer named Shaw uses his annual fund raiser to meet and seduce young girls and is the father of the dead girl's fetus. He is also a yachtsman and the knot tied to hold the body down doesn't make sense, it was a square knot which will come undone. This leads Jesse to the real murderer's, a local drug dealer and his gunman bodyguard. They killed the girl and planted her to get Shaw out of the picture because he was writing an expose on the dealer. They all meet in an abandoned building where the dealer ends up shot by his guard and Jesse kills the shooter. Just a nice old fashion detective movie.

No Stone Unturned

[writers_reign · 8/10 · 1 February 2017]

The late Robert B. Parker turned out easy-to-read novels prolifically, the majority featuring 'series' characters like Spenser and Jesse Stone. Several of the Jesse Stone novels were adapted for television and all of those I have seen have been excellent primarily because the producers have had the good sense to cast most of the roles with fine actors rather than signing a half-decent lead and then surrounding him/her with a group of ho hums. Apart from Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone the standout supporting actor is Viola Davis by a country mile, unfortunately she fell or was pushed halfway through the series and her character was renamed. Another of its strengths lies in having Stone concentrate on one main case yet still manage to deal with others, just as a real chief of police in a small town would. Excellent.

The best from the first three films.

[Reno-Rangan · 9/10 · 14 October 2016]

The third film in the Jesse Stone series which was based on the third book by Robert B. Parker. The most complete film, for me it is the best from the first three. You will find it a lot different than the previous two, it's filled with a lot of suspense moments till the last minute. I think retaining the same director so far for the series worked so well. It was just a 90 minute film, but feels it runs for very long and that is not in a boring way, but from the development wise, it is a well made film.

In a small town, like what Jesse says who he mostly gives out parking tickets gets a new case to get engaged. This time it is a death of the young teen girl whose body was washed up on the river's edge, but completely unidentifiable. Jesse follows where all the clues lead and after getting the details about the missing children around the town of Paradise, he moves on one step closer to identify the victim as well as to mark the suspect. But then again, the twist and turns brings more interesting aspect of the story and his big city experience comes into effect after his co-worker was badly hurt in a shootout.

In this, it was Mae Whitman as in a guest appearance, but it was too short as she stays for only a couple of minutes. The other one was Stephen Baldwin, whose character adds more flavour like abolishing one film one case kind of mindset in a cop theme. Because in the real police work, they deal multiple cases at a time.

In this, as well in the lead Tom Selleck was awesome. But while his character over obsessed with the case, the film reveals his psychological side of the desperation to bring the justice to the dead girl. Like the girl appearing in his dream and particularly in the station, he hallucinates about her which describes him in a completely different angle for a second. Besides, there's slight sentiments in it and so it also digs on his new romance interest for a school principal, but the Jesse is very clear on what he's seeking after leaving the LA that his job comes first.

"This job in Paradise is my last job. I get off the bus here."

In some case, finding the suspect alone is not valid to prove someones crimes, so what this story's notion is to find the motive which automatically going reveals everything rest behind the crime. I think very smartly written story, I was fascinated by all the development like step by step how a death enquiry takes place. Released in the same year as the previous film, this is another wonderful detective film made for the television.

Solid performances, particularly Davis Viola and Kohl Sudduth who are the regular cast did not fail to deliver in their small screenspace. But I expected the big contribution, and I hope in the following film they would achieve that. So in this you are going to witness the Jesse's job commitment, his personal life was sidelined to a marginal. Particularly his ex-wife never calls which I thought kind of annoying in the first two films to taking over than the usual. Jesse does not drink in this, but can be seen him with a coffee mug in most of the parts.

If you like murder-mysteries, then this is the film to pick, but I suggest to go for the whole series, begin with the first. I have seen only three films, but I think it is worth giving a try. There's only small clichés like how the police department works, but the narration was very good with the full details. The pace was excellent against the strong story and the character developments. Jesse's courage was another highlight. He always takes risks his life, especially dealing the situation when men are armed and pose a serious threat.

Sure, the film will live up to anybody's expectations and also it can be watched by everyone. You probably have seen many cop films, but this is one of those must not miss. I'm happy for this part to focus on the child molestation topic. Like I said in my last review, so far so good and particularly standing up to this film's standard is quite what I'm looking for in the next one. Anyway, it won't too long for another review in the Jesse Stone series.

9/10

The apparent lack of artifice is in itself high art............

[ianlouisiana · 10/10 · 7 November 2012]

Mr Tom Selleck has often been sold short,particularly in the early stages of his career when he appeared to be just another good - looking big guy,albeit one with a sense of humour.More recently he has been flexing his acting chops and in the "Jesse Stone:Death in Paradise" he gives a performance well beyond the call of duty. Chief of a four person police department on the Massachusets coast,he is a man to inspire loyalty and confidence,respect and obedience;a remnant,if you like of all our distant memories of what we would like small - town cops to be. He is not a perfect man by any means,arriving in Paradise on the back of a marriage break up and he has a drink problem that he seems unable to resolve. He is stubborn,principled,brave and flawed,not unlike Robert B.Parker's more famous character,Spenser. He does not show emotion but he is not emotionless. Mr Selleck portrays these complicated and contrary characteristics with very little indications other than the eyes.Mostly he looks impassive but his true feelings are visible through his eyes.It is an exceedingly impressive performance of a depth rarely seen in TV productions. The story is almost ancillary to the character development,Mr Selleck is obviously in this for the long run. Mr W.Devane is excellent as the cop - turned - shrink who dishes out tough love to Jesse at $180 per hour. Lovers of Mr Parker's novels will appreciate the characters that cross from the Spenser series,Commander Healey of the State Police and Gino Fish the Boston mobster with a whimsical turn of mind. I have just read the first post - Parker Jesse Stone and the character has made the difficult transition between the authors quite flawlessly. I wholeheartedly recommend the "Jesse Stone" series to all lovers of joined - up TV cop shows.

Excellent

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 25 March 2020]

Battered police chief and recovering alcoholic Jesse Stone (superbly played by Tom Selleck) spearheads the investigation of the murder of a pregnant teenage girl as well as has his hands full dealing with an abusive husband (a perfectly slimy turn by John Diehl) who beats his wife (a moving performance by Debra Christofferson).

Director John Harmon relates the absorbing story at a constant pace, maintains an appropriately sober and gritty tone throughout, and adroitly crafts a potent gloomy atmosphere. Selleck anchors the show with his astute portrayal of a flawed and beaten down, but basically decent guy who's trying to hold it together and continually come through under extremely difficult circumstances. Moreover, there are fine supporting contributions from Viola Davis as the sassy Molly Crane, Kohl Sudduth as the eager Luther 'Suitcase' Simpson, Orla Brady as chipper and enticing private school head mistress Lilly Summers, William Devane as coldly pragmatic shrink Dr. Dix, Gary Basaraba as arrogant author Norman Shaw, and Steven Flynn as menacing mobster Lee Finn. The smart script by Selleck, J.T. Allen, and Michael Brandon provides lots of choice snappy dialogue and well-rounded characters. David Gribble's slick cinematography provides a nice polished look. Ace melodic score by Jeff Beal, too. Well worth a watch.