"When I do a film, I like to not only be involved with the emotion, but also the context around the character. I want to show the environment and I want, sometimes, to deal with social and political issues because they are organic to the jobs of people." Filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier

There have been a number of documentaries about Hurricane Katrina and the lasting effects it had on the city of New Orleans. Tavernier is one of the few directors who actually refers to the event in a narrative feature. Katrina isn't the focus of the story, but it helps ground the characters and setting of "In the Electric Mist".

The novel, from James Lee Burke, is written in the first-person. The film keeps that perspective with Tommy Lee Jones, as detective Dave Robicheaux, speaking several voice-overs. Tavernier does not belabor the technique. He uses it mainly in the beginning to establish character, and at the end to wrap up the various plot threads. In my review, I focus on Jones's performance. But there are a number of good actors appearing in this independent that I did not mention, including Mary Steenburgen, James Gammon, and Ned Beatty.

First Run Features, although it did not distribute "In the Electric Mist, does handle the rights for quite a few French films. I reviewed "The Clearstream Affair" some weeks ago. Another film that I also liked from First Run Features is "Dark Diamond" (2016). The tagline on the DVD refers to it as a heist film, but "Dark Diamond" is really a character study. A young man loses his father and blames his relatives. Seeking revenge, he ingratiates himself into their lives. His perspective changes, however, at a crucial moment. For some reason, IMDb refers to this film as "Dark Inclusion" when the DVD clearly states the other title. If you liked "The Clearstream Affair", I think you will like this film as well. (FirstRunFeatures.com is the company's website.)



Here's the latest article from the Drama Movies site at BellaOnline.com.

In the Electric Mist Film Review
Tommy Lee Jones delivers another fine performance as Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux, a darker version of the lawman he played in "The Fugitive". This absorbing thriller, adapted from a James Lee Burke novel, also features John Goodman, Levon Helm, and Buddy Guy.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art64177.asp

Please visit dramamovies.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Drama Movies.



Angela K. Peterson, Drama Movies Editor
http://dramamovies.bellaonline.com

One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com