JESSE STONE: NO REMORSE

US, 2010, 87 minutes, Colour.
Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Stephen Mc Hattie, Krista Allen, William Devane, Saul Rubinek, William Sadler, Mae Whitman, Todd Hofley.
Directed by Robert Harmon.

No Remorse is a continuation of the Jesse Stone story. Jesse Stone is a police officer, created by Robert Parker in a series of novels. After his marriage collapsed, and some difficulties in Los Angeles, Jesse Stone moved to Massachusetts. While he is involved in police investigations, he has also fallen out with the town council. The police in the precinct are forbidden to communicate with him. Nevertheless, there were two separate murder investigations in which he becomes involved.

In the Jesse Stone films, the narrative is continuous. Some of the characters remain the same and appear in many of the films. The two villains in this film, played by William Sadler and Todd Hofley, in fact have appeared in previous films as has Saul Rubinek as a man released from jail, trying to communicate with his wife, Krista Allen. Stephen McHattie? has also appeared in most of the films as Jesse Stone’s police chief. Kathy Baker has appeared in one or two films and is a strong support.

The film spends a lot of its screenplay on characterisation of Jesse Stone (with Tom Selleck not only executive producing but also contributing to the screenplay). He is a complex character, good at intuition about investigations, following through – with the problems of his ex-wife and her phone calls still plaguing him, his tendency to drink too much alcohol, his difficulties in relationships.

The film is interesting in its own right – but has stronger interest for those who have been following the Jesse Stone films, film by film. Robert Harmon has directed the whole series.

1. The Robert Parker novels, the police, murder mysteries, the humanity? The various film versions? Tom Selleck and his central role, performance, producing, writing?

2. The town of Paradise, the town and its surroundings, Jesse’s house and its isolation? The police offices, the town council? Ordinary life in the town? The contrast with the city of Boston? The train, the offices in the business buildings, the gyms, the clubs? The musical score?

3. The title, the killings, the investigation, the victims, the revelation of the killer? His lack of remorse?

4. The carpark murders, callous, the style, the victims, the killer, the repetitions?

5. The diner, the assaults, the visualising of them? The young girl at the diner, the difficulties, the threats, her being prepared for the attack? The hold-up and her response?

6. The character of Jesse, Tom Selleck’s presence? His suspension? Suit being in charge, Rose assisting? Their not being allowed to talk to Jesse, their visits? Their suggestions, his responses, Rose and the tapes, the convenience stores and the similarities of the hold-ups? The final set-up, too involved, the arrest?

7. Jesse and his wife, her phone calls, his getting a cell phone, wanting it to be secret, giving the number to so many people? His becoming involved, the chief, his visit to the house, Jesse agreeing to be a consultor?

8. The variety of characters, seen throughout the different films? Jesse and his meeting them? Kirsty and her seductive behaviour? The separation from her husband? Her husband, the past, crime, getting out of jail, friendship with Jesse, helping with the car? Sister John, the consultation, the meal, Jesse’s awkwardness in being in a restaurant with a nun? Going to his psychiatrist and the discussions?

9. Rose, her life, hardships, children, getting a divorce, the attraction to Jesse, talking things over with him, calling in, the drink? At work, the tapes, the evidence?

10. Suit, in charge, able to handle the situation or not, abiding by the rules, his visits to Jesse? The solving of the crime? Going to the council?

11. The psychiatrist, his life, his own story, the shooting, his sense of guilt, satisfaction? Giving up the drink? Jesse consulting him, their talking, the issues of Jesse’s wife, going fishing?

12. The gym, the boss, his being in the other films? His sexual orientation and behaviour? Alan working for him? The meal, the waiter? The murdered man employed by him? His lying, giving him the job? The sex club? Jesse’s visit? The interrogations? Working out what happened? Telling Gino? Confronting Alan, Alan to make a decision?

13. Alan and the challenge, his relationship with Gino, his jealousy, Jesse contacting him, talking, the hypothesis about what happened, arrangement for the meeting? Alan, throwing his gun in the river? The irony of the street accident – and Gino behind it?

14. The family of the murdered cashier, African American, grief, the funeral, Jesse’s compassion? The issue of remorse? Alan lacking remorse?

15. Jesse and his abilities, intuitions, work, investigations, hypotheses, making links, solving problems? His life?

16. The council, their hard attitude? Jesse and his being late? Suit and Rose being there? The issue up in the air – his reinstatement or not?