Jesse Stone – Sea Change (Telefilm/Sony DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Telefilm: C+

 

 

Tom Selleck is back as Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone in Sea Change, the fourth and more thoughtful of the recent telefilms Selleck has made as the detective.  Again, Selleck is good in the role, but this time, the tale of reopening a murder case that reopens too many old wounds for his own good.

 

Unfortunately, the teleplay by Ronni Kern (and maybe the source book?) cut too far into the mystery side to hold this one together.  I liked the previous two (covered on DVD elsewhere on this site) a little more, but I give the makers credit for at least trying to do more than the usual formula production.  Selleck is also getting better in the role, which saves this from other problems.  If you want to check out Sea Change, do so, but check out the earlier TV movies first.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on both is a bit soft, shot in some kind of HD video and has limited color & depth.  It is watchable, but never too visually engaging.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 has some healthy surrounds, which helps make viewing easier and dialogue is recorded well enough.  The only extra on both discs are previews for other Sony DVDs.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo