JESSE STONE: THIN ICE

US, 2009, 88 minutes, Colour.
Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudoth, Leslie Hope, William Devane, Stephen Mac Hattie, Camryn Manheim.
Directed by Robert Harmon.

Thin Ice was one of the later contributions to the Jesse Stone series of telemovies starring Tom Selleck. Most of them were directed by Robert Harmon.

Over the series, the characters have become familiar to audiences, especially that of Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone, with his alcohol problem, his ex-wife and her contact, his leaving Los Angeles and setting up in Massachusetts, his last chance at a job.

Familiar characters appear, a sub-plot with Commander Healy, played by Stephen Mac Hattie, who is wounded in an attack, a revenge shooting, which Stone follows through despite orders. This includes an investigation with Internal Affairs, the investigator played by Leslie Hope, and an affair with her. It also means visits to the mobster, Gino Fish, who has appeared in many of the films, William Sadler. Then there are the familiar visits to his therapist, Dr Dix, William Devane.

The title indicates the main theme, an investigation of an abducted baby, with a card sent from Paradise to say that the baby is loved. The mother, Camryn Manheim, pleads her cause to the police, Stone saying that it could not be solved, Rose, Kathy Baker, wanting to follow up. And the case is sadly resolved.

There were more Stone telemovies to follow.

1. The continuing success of the Jesse Stone series, Tom Selleck and his presence, the supporting cast? Life in Paradise? Crime-solving?

2. Audiences familiar with the town of Paradise, the police precincts, Stone’s home, the council chambers? The surroundings, the sea, the highways? The comparisons with Boston, the city streets, buildings, mobster headquarters, hospitals…? The musical score?

3. The title, solved at the end, the young boy and his abduction, death?

4. The Commander Healy story? Jesse with Healy and the stakeout, the story of Healy’s nephew, his affair with the music teacher, and his later playing for his uncle in the hospital? The attack, the shooting? Healy wounded, Stone shot, returning fire? Healy in hospital, recovering? Forbidding Stone to pursue the case? Stone and his discussions with Greenstreet, getting the photo? His discussions with Gino Fish and the confirmation of the names? The alibi for the shooter? Stone and his method of setting people up? The meeting with Sister John, the contemporary nun in lay clothes, working with the girls, shrewdness, giving him the information, accepting his invitation to lunch? The confrontation with the shooter in the club, taunting him, parole and his alibi, his luring him to the apartment block, the discussions with Suit, apprehending the shooter, tying him up, leaving the gun, phoning to complain that the building was being robbed? Keeping within the letter of the law?

5. The interviews with Sydney Greenstreet? Her role in internal affairs, the sexual innuendo? Her knowing about him? Their discussion about the
respective spouses? The affair, the effect on each? his return to her, her threatening him if he went outside the law?

6. Stone and his trouble with the city council, the interview with the councillor’s son-in-law, rejecting him? The interview, the councillor who liked movies, the other member silent, the threats, the investigation, the letter suspending him? The issue of fines for speeding, his cutting down the tree and exposing the sign, fewer fines?

7. Rose, her presence in the office, friendship with Stone, exasperation with him? Suit, his name for Stone, wanting to do extra work, surveillance in Boston, the issue of the missing child, his contribution?

8. The visit from Mrs Blue, the story of her missing child, the media, her husband protecting her, the five-year anniversary and the media enquiries? Her husband not letting her know, leaving him? The postcard from Paradise? A visit to the office, her plea, the issue of all the mail she received? Stone and his saying that it was impossible to recover the child? And lacking the resources? Rose and her listening, wanting to do something? Stone and his enquiries, the doctor and the information? Rose and the box of letters, his going to the bus station to meet Mrs Blue?

9. The speculations, Suit and his contribution to enquiries at the schools, the kindergartens? The information about the boy and his birth date? Visiting the mother, the enquiry about the car, talking with the neighbours? The return, Stephanie and her knowing that they would call, taking them to the baby’s room, the story of his death, the thin ice?

10. The sub-plot with Dr Dix, Stone and the ring from his wife, moving in with her boyfriend? Ringing Dr Dix, going to visit, their therapy, $180 an hour? Dix’s personality, the past with the police force, his resigning, smoking? The later visit, the discussions? Stone taking Dix for dinner?

11. The finale, Stone and his suspension? His going on the bus to Albuquerque to see Mrs Blue?