Views and Reviews

[lostcajun]

First, I've read all of JLB's books. I enjoy them, especially JLB's wonderful way of narration and description. I think this is what is missing in the movie. I missed Robicheaux explaining his thoughts or connections with different characters or with the culture. I've read the book a number of times, and it seems that the screen writer would have a JLB line from the book but completely out of context; orphaned from to the build ups the book provides. The best parts of the movie is the Robicheaux narration at the beginning of the movie and at its end. That's when I noticed the JLB touch. I think the acting is fine, with the exception of Sykes. The actor just doesn't make the character work. I am grateful to the casting director taking a risk with local actors. If they are less perfect in their performance it's fine with me because their accents make up the difference and their connection to the culture works. I think the editor and perhaps director were the weak link. The scene with Amber on the table moving her eye lids when she's supposed to be dead just seems sloppy to me. The edit is very choppy and the soundtrack doesn't seem to tie the scenes together. Just when the music seems to work to help build the mood it goes silent or abruptly changes to a completely different style. I bought the movie because I'm a fan of JLB. JLB's stories really deserve better. His prose really deserves better. The culture that we love deserves better.

[whitey2]

I agree with your review

I to bought the movie because of both JLB and my love for South Louisiana

[Ok24Stacey]

I rec'd my copy of the DVD in the mail yesterday. I agree, too. After following the Dave character and his story for years it did feel like something was missing from the movie. And I was trying to explain it when I got to work this morning and it hit me, JLB just has a way of telling the story and the movie just didn't hit the mark in that department. It left me feeling a little disconnected and I could see why someone not familiar with the series would be confused.

BUT BUT BUT......seeing New Iberia and the little things I recongnized from that area was fun. I saw the Teche Motel and the bungalow they used for Lou Girard's death scene is the one next to where lil Ryanne and I spent our time while in NI. I loved that James Gammon was cast and popped up twice. I have always liked him. Then Levon Helm (played Gen Hood) was awesome. I got chills each time he spoke.

I have watched it twice and will watch it 50 times more in the next few days, I still love me some JLB.

And Ms Gail....I sent you an email. lol

[robertgreenup]

I will try to comment on this as a film and separate that review from my love of the novel.

First I have to say that I watched the movie on Blu-ray and found that the scenery was a huge part of this film. Great locations and some good cinematography. Being from Bayou country myself, I think that the film catches the atmosphere of the setting very well.

Secondly I was very impressed with Tommy Lee Jone's portrayal of Dave: Haunted, intense, bordering on obsessed with the threat of violence always very near the surface. I thought he captured Dave perfectly. I liked the other casting and performances as well, with Levon Helm a standout as General Hood.

I thought that the music also greatly enhanced the atmosphere of the film.

The fly in the ointment for me was the editing. While the scenes seem well acted and are lovely to look at, the way they are chopped short and crammed together with little transition really hurt the film. That said, there were a few very effective scenes. The bathroom in New Orleans and the confrontation with Littefeet in the restaurant were pure Dave. Dave and Bootsie on the dock captured the relationship well I thought. The scene at General Hood's tomb was a nice touch.

I think that more use of voice over that used JLB's prose would have helped the flow of the film greatly. Perhaps the 15 minutes cut from the US release would have helped here too. But overall I liked the film. I know that as an avid JLB reader I brought a lot of subtext to the film, but even so I think that this was a passable film. I hope that the production problems here will not dissuade Tommy Lee from future Dave films with a different director!

[dougie]

I have read all of JBL's Dave Robicheaux books and watched the Blu Ray dvd of "Electric Mist" last night. I loved the scenery and the music. The scenery was enough to make wish that I had been born and raised in that part of the South. I love the blues and I thought the sound track really rocked. Buddy Guy is one of all-time great electric guitar players but I have never heard of him venturing down to LA from Chicago to play.

One minor criticism: Dave always wore a seersucker sport coat. That was NOT a seersucker jacket Tommy Lee Jones was wearing. The wardrobe people must have been a bunch of Yankees who didn't have a clue what a seersucker even looks like.

But there was one very glaring and totally inexcusable error: When the War Between the States Confederate General talks to Dave he refers to his unit as the "Calvary." Didn't these film makers ever go to church or serve in the army? "Calvary" is the name of the hill upon which Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. The army unit is the "Cavalry."

That should have been caught and corrected. That almost ruined an otherwise enjoyable movie for me. If that mistake didn't bother you it should have.

[penelope]

I have read all of JBL's Dave Robicheaux books and watched the Blu Ray dvd of "Electric Mist" last night. I loved the scenery and the music. The scenery was enough to make wish that I had been born and raised in that part of the South. I love the blues and I thought the sound track really rocked. Buddy Guy is one of all-time great electric guitar players but I have never heard of him venturing down to LA from Chicago to play.

One minor criticism: Dave always wore a seersucker sport coat. That was NOT a seersucker jacket Tommy Lee Jones was wearing. The wardrobe people must have been a bunch of Yankees who didn't have a clue what a seersucker even looks like.

But there was one very glaring and totally inexcusable error: When the War Between the States Confederate General talks to Dave he refers to his unit as the "Calvary." Didn't these film makers ever go to church or serve in the army? "Calvary" is the name of the hill upon which Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. The army unit is the "Cavalry."

That should have been caught and corrected. That almost ruined an otherwise enjoyable movie for me. If that mistake didn't bother you it should have.

That's what you get when you have a bunch of Yankees trying to talk Southern! Many, many people mispronounce the word and just don't realize it. And how do we know that John Bell Hood wasn't one of them?

Glad to have you on board, Dougie. Keep posting.

Pen

[DaddyMc]

That's what you get when you have a bunch of Yankees trying to talk Southern! Many, many people mispronounce the word and just don't realize it. And how do we know that John Bell Hood wasn't one of them?

Glad to have you on board, Dougie. Keep posting.

Pen[/quote]


Only one thing....the actor who played the General is Levon Helm, from Turkey Scratch Arkansas, and is as southern as they come. Music fans know him as one of the majestic voices of The Band...
Daddy Mc

"Pulled into Nazareth, feelin' bout half past dead
just need a place where I can lay my head
Hey mister, can you tell me
where a man might find a bed
he just grinned, and shook my hand
no was all he said

Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load of Fanny
and put the load right on me" from The Weight

[pamala]

...and he was fantastic as Sissy Spacek/Loretta Lynn's father in Coal Miner's Daughter

[DaddyMc]

Yes indeed!

[penelope]

That's what you get when you have a bunch of Yankees trying to talk Southern! Many, many people mispronounce the word and just don't realize it. And how do we know that John Bell Hood wasn't one of them?

Glad to have you on board, Dougie. Keep posting.

Pen

Only one thing....the actor who played the General is Levon Helm, from Turkey Scratch Arkansas, and is as southern as they come. Music fans know him as one of the majestic voices of The Band...
Daddy Mc

"Pulled into Nazareth, feelin' bout half past dead
just need a place where I can lay my head
Hey mister, can you tell me
where a man might find a bed
he just grinned, and shook my hand
no was all he said

Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load of Fanny
and put the load right on me" from The Weight[/quote]

Mea Culpa! Mea Culpa!

I apologize if I offended anyone. Shouldn't have made the Yankee comment. However, what I was trying to get across, however clumsily, is that about half the people I know say calvary rather than cavalry. AND, truly, how do we know that John Bell Hood didn't pronounce it that way?

Didn't see Coal Miner's Daughter, but he did turn in a fine performance in "Electric Mist."