Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One (Blu-ray) (2018)

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     The three films in this set have been released as stand-alone DVDs previously in various regions as well as being included in various Jesse Stone Collections. This Australian release from ViaVision is, however, the only Blu-ray listed on Amazon.com.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Innocents Lost (Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost) (Blu-ray) (2011)

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General		Extras
Category	Action	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2011
Running Time	90:50
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Dick Lowry
Studio Distributor	ViaVision	Starring	Tom Selleck Kathy Baker Kohl Sudduth Stephen McHattie Jeff Geddis William Sadler Eileen Boylan
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Jeff Beal

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (640Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	Yes
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) is at rock bottom; he has been fired as the Police Chief of the town of Paradise, Massachusetts, is drinking heavily, seeing a psychiatrist and unable to talk to his ex-wife; even his dog refuses to sit beside him. Jesse however still has friends inside the Paradise police force in Rose (Kathy Baker) and Luther (Kohl Sudduth) and has sex without commitment with secretary at a used car saleyard Thelma (Gloria Reuben). Boston Police Commissioner Healey (Stephen McHattie) is also an old friend and calls Jesse with a proposition; a young black man has been arrested for robbing a liquor store and shooting the owner in the face. However, Healey is not convinced that the man is guilty, despite the evidence, and asks Jesse to investigate further.

     Jesse agrees but he has an ulterior motive and a special request. He asks Healey for a Police Badge because, as well as doing what the Commissioner wants, Jesse intends to investigate the death of a young girl named Cindy (Eileen Boylan) who had been found dead in her car from a suspected overdose only a few kilometres from Jesse’s house. Cindy, whom Jesse had previously arrested and befriended, was from a wealthy Paradise family and had written to Jesse shortly before her death. Jesse quickly finds evidence that establishes that the young black man could not have been the killer of the liquor store owner. However, his investigations into Cindy’s death bring Jesse into contact with some of Paradise’s most prominent citizens as well as Boston’s sleazy underworld of drugs and prostitution. For, even if Cindy had died of an accidental overdose, Jesse is determined to find the persons responsible.

     Innocents Lost (also known as Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost) is a TV movie based on the characters created by best-selling author Robert B Parker; he wrote twelve books in which Jesse Stone features and there have been nine TV movies made with Tom Selleck in the role, the first Stone Cold in 2005. Innocents Lost is the seventh TV movie in the set, so coming to the series, and the character, for the first time, as I did, there is a fair bit of baggage from earlier films and a bit of sorting out the relationships between the various characters to be done. It is not essential, however, to know anything about the background or the characters if you come to Innocents Lost fresh, although it would help.

     Like all the better crime and police shows, Innocents Lost is more about the characters and their relationships than the crimes. Tom Selleck, in the role of a grizzled and gruff older man, is excellent bringing strength and vulnerability in equal measure. However, as this film is in the middle of the series of films, Innocents Lost does not have much of a character arc for any of the other characters, including Luke or Rose. The film does meander a bit and, as well, the climax is disappointing; will shooting one pimp / pusher dead really resolve the drug addiction problem? Or address the systematic failures of care within the Paradise establishment?

    Innocents Lost looks good, with nice locations, Jeff Beal’s score is excellent , Tom Selleck is worth watching and if the resolution is somewhat disappointing, the set up and characters are interesting.

Video

     Innocents Lost is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio, MPEG 4 AVC encoded.

     This is a clean and good looking print. Widescreen shots of the Paradise bay and waterfront are strong as are close ups of Selleck’s grizzled face. Colours are natural, although with that digital flatness and sheen. Blacks are solid and shadow detail good, skin tones natural, brightness and contrast consistent. There was some noise reduction in early scenes but otherwise marks and artefacts were absent.

     No subtitles are provided.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio is lossy English Dolby Digital 5.1 at 640 Kbps.

     This is not an action film so the audio is fine. Dialogue is easy to understand and ambient effects, including thunder and rain, occurred in the rears. Effects, such as the gunshots at the end are clear and loud. The subwoofer mostly supported the thunder, rain and music.

    The wonderful, evocative score is by Jeff Beal, one of my favourite TV composers with music for series such as Rome and House of Cards on his resume. He has 136 credits on the IMDb, but I think he is one on the most underrated composers going round.

    Lip synchronisation was fine.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     No extras. The silent menu has “Play Film” as the only option.

     This release of Innocents Lost is part of the 3 disc Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One (see details in the summary section below). Innocents Lost has been released as a stand-alone DVD previously in various regions as well as being included in various Jesse Stone Collections. This Australian release is, however, the only Blu-ray listed on Amazon.com.

     Innocents Lost may not be the best entry point for the Jesse Stone series due to the lack of character development or exposition. However, you can get into the film without prior knowledge of the characters and Tom Selleck is very good.

    The video and audio are good, no extras.

     Innocents Lost is included in the three disc Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One from ViaVision together with Benefit of the Doubt (2012) and Lost in Paradise (2015). Although this is called “Film Collection One”, the three TV movies included are in fact the last three films in the series.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Benefit of the Doubt (Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt) (Blu-ray) (2012)

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General		Extras
Category	Action	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2012
Running Time	89:37
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Robert Harmon
Studio Distributor	ViaVision	Starring	Tom Selleck Kathy Baker Kohl Sudduth Stephen McHattie Jeff Geddis William Sadler Jerememy Akerman Saul Rubinek Christine Tizzard
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Jeff Beal

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (640Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	Yes
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     When the new Police Chief of the town of Paradise, Massachusetts, is assassinated by a car bomb and $100,000 in cash and a large quantity of drugs found in the boot of his car, it is generally assumed that he was a dirty cop. The previous Police Chief Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) still has his demons. He is drinking heavily, is still in love with his ex-wife and still seeing a psychiatrist but when the investigation into the murder of the new Chief is led by Jesse’s old friend Boston Police Captain Healey (Stephen McHattie), Carter Hanson (Jeremy Akerman), the head of the Paradise Town Council and the deceased Police Chief’s father-in-law, asks Jesse to investigate. Jesse agrees on condition that he is reappointed Police Chief. Jesse believes that, although he did not like the previous Police Chief, a cop deserves the benefit of the doubt.

     He has to undertake the investigation, however, without his two old police friends Rose (Kathy Baker) and Luther (Kohl Sudduth) who have both left the force. On the positive side, his relationship with Thelma (Gloria Reuben), secretary at a used car saleyard and part time lounge singer, is going strong. And as Jesse investigates, the clues seem to be steering him towards one of Paradise’s prominent businessman.

     Benefit of the Doubt (also known as Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt) is a TV movie based on the characters created by best-selling author Robert B Parker; he wrote twelve books in which Jesse Stone features and there have been nine TV movies made with Tom Selleck in the role, the first Stone Cold in 2005. Benefit of the Doubt is the eighth TV movie in the set, and the second in this Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One box set, but it is a more straightforward film than Innocents Lost, the first in the box set, and so is easier to get into for people new to the character and the series.

     Like all the better crime and police shows, Benefit of the Doubt is as much about the characters and their relationships as the crimes. Thus in the course of the investigation Jesse has scenes with continuing characters including his psychiatrist Dr Dix (William Devane), used car salesman “Hasty” Hathaway (Saul Rubinek), boxing promoter and underworld figure Gino Fish (William Sadler) and Fish’s PA Amanda (Christine Tizzard) while there is poignancy in his more personal relationships, such as that with Rose who has been divorced and moved away, while the developing relationship with Thelma is nicely played. The film also has a wry sense of humour, such as when Jesse has to break into his own Police Station as the access codes had been changed.

    Benefit of the Doubt is excellent television. Tom Selleck, in the role of a grizzled and gruff older man of many issues but few words, is excellent bringing strength and vulnerability in equal measure. He effortlessly carries the programme. The film looks good, with nice seaside locations while Jeff Beal’s score continues to be impressive and atmospheric.

Video

     Benefit of the Doubt is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio, MPEG 4 AVC encoded.

     This is a good looking print. Widescreen shots of Paradise Bay and the waterfront are strong as are close ups of Selleck’s grizzled face. Colours are natural. Blacks are solid and shadow detail good, skin tones natural, brightness and contrast consistent. Marks and artefacts were absent.

     No subtitles are provided.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio is lossy English Dolby Digital 5.1 at 640 Kbps.

     This is not an action film so the audio is fine. Dialogue is easy to understand and ambient effects, including thunder and rain, occurred in the rears. Effects, such as the explosion, flames and gunshots, are clear and loud. The subwoofer mostly supported the thunder, rain and music.

    The wonderful score by Jeff Beal is atmospheric and adds to the enjoyment of the film.

    Lip synchronisation was fine.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     No extras. The silent menu has “Play Film” as the only option.

     This release of Benefit of the Doubt is part of the 3 disc Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One (see details in the summary section below). Benefit of the Doubt has been released as a stand-alone DVD previously in various regions as well as being included in various Jesse Stone Collections. This Australian release is, however, the only Blu-ray listed on Amazon.com.

    Benefit of the Doubt is excellent television. Tom Selleck is worth watching, the series looks good, with nice the seaside locations and Jeff Beal’s score continues to be impressive. Fans will not be disappointed.

    The video and audio are good, no extras.

     Benefit of the Doubt is included in the three disc Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One from ViaVision together with Innocents Lost (2011) and Lost in Paradise (2015). Although this is called “Film Collection One”, the three TV movies included are in fact the last three films in the series.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Lost in Paradise (Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise) (Blu-ray) (2015)

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General		Extras
Category	Action	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2015
Running Time	89:01
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Robert Harmon
Studio Distributor	ViaVision	Starring	Tom Selleck William Devane Kohl Sudduth Leslie Hope Luke Perry William Sadler Kerri Smith Christine Tizzard
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Jeff Beal

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (640Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	Yes
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Two years after the events of Benefit of the Doubt Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck), Police Chief of the town of Paradise, Massachusetts, is not in a good place. His dog has died, he is drinking heavily, seeing a psychiatrist, and he is still in love with ex-wife. While Jesse has not moved on others have; his part time lover Thelma (Gloria Reuben) has left Paradise and his old friend Boston Police Captain Healey has taken retirement, to be replaced in charge of Boston Homicide by Lieutenant Sydney Greenstreet (Leslie Hope). Crime is virtually non-existent in Paradise; bored, lonely and at a loose end, Jesse makes a deal with Lieutenant Greenstreet to become a consultant for Boston Homicide, reviewing open, unsolved cases. His attention is drawn to the case of serial killer Richard Steele (Luke Perry) who has confessed to murdering three prostitutes. A fourth prostitute was also murdered using exactly the same modus operandi as the other three; everyone assumes that Steele had also murdered this woman but he vehemently denies it. Jesse in inclined to believe Steele and embarks on a quest to find the killer of the fourth murdered woman. But someone seems to have knowledge of his every step.

     Lost in Paradise (also known as Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise) is a TV movie based on the characters created by best-selling author Robert B Parker; he wrote twelve books in which Jesse Stone features and there have been nine TV movies made with Tom Selleck in the role, the first Stone Cold in 2005. Lost in Paradise is the ninth and last TV movie in the set and the third in this Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One box set.

     Like all the better crime and police shows, Lost in Paradise is as much about the characters and their relationships as the crimes. Thus in the course of the investigation Jesse manages to adopt a new dog and has scenes with continuing characters including his psychiatrist Dr Dix (William Devane), Sister Mary (Kerri Smith), boxing promoter and underworld figure Gino Fish (William Sadler) and Fish’s PA Amanda (Christine Tizzard) while, running parallel with the murder investigation, Jesse befriends thirteen year old Paradise girl Jenny (Mackenzie Foy) whose single mother is an alcoholic, a condition Jesse knows only too well.

    Lost in Paradise is a strong conclusion to this three film set. Tom Selleck is excellent bringing strength and vulnerability in equal measure and he effortlessly carries the programme. The film looks good, with nice the seaside locations while Jeff Beal’s score continues to be impressive and atmospheric.

Video

     Lost in Paradise is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio, MPEG 4 AVC encoded.

     This is a clean and good looking print. Widescreen shots of the Paradise bay and waterfront are strong as are close ups of Selleck’s grizzled face. Colours are generally natural, although the Paradise scenes have a grey look and the Boston scenes have a very yellow look. Blacks are solid and shadow detail good, skin tones natural, brightness and contrast consistent. Marks and artefacts were absent except for some motion blur against vertical lines.

     No subtitles are provided.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio is lossy English Dolby Digital 5.1 at 640 Kbps.

     This is not an action film so the audio is fine. Dialogue is easy to understand and ambient effects, including thunder and rain, occurred in the rears. Effects, such as the impact of the car that tries to ram Jesse’s car and the gunshots, are clear and loud. The subwoofer mostly supported the thunder, rain and music.

    The wonderful, evocative score by Jeff Beal helps set the tone of the film.

    Lip synchronisation was fine.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     No extras. The silent menu has “Play Film” as the only option.

     This release of Lost in Paradise is part of the 3 disc Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One (see details in the summary section below). Lost in Paradise has been released as a stand-alone DVD previously in various regions as well as being included in various Jesse Stone Collections. This Australian release is, however, the only Blu-ray listed on Amazon.com.

     Lost in Paradise is an excellent TV film; it has a great cast including a spot on Tom Selleck, believable characters and situations, good locations and an atmospheric score. Fans will not be disappointed.

    The video and audio are good, no extras.

     Lost in Paradise is included in the three disc Jesse Stone: Triple Film Collection One from ViaVision together with Innocents Lost (2011) and Benefit of the Doubt (2012). Although this is called “Film Collection One”, the three TV movies included are in fact the last three films in the series.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall