In the Electric Mist

In the Electric Mist

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Editorial Reviews

Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones leads an all-star cast in this psychological thriller based on the bestselling novel by James Lee Burke.
While on an investigation into a series of grisly murders, veteran detective Dave Robicheaux (Jones) navigates his way through the Louisiana bayou and the dark, sultry world of New Orleans mobster "Baby Feet" Balboni (John Goodman). Layers of corruption and long-dead secrets reawaken grudges and a lethal alliance A tangled web of killings, past and present, converges in a shocking showdown with stakes that become deeply personal to Robicheaux and his family. Featuring music from five-time GRAMMY Award-winner Buddy Guy, this film takes you deep into Cajun country's hidden worlds. *Best Supporting Actor: The Fugitive, 1993

Based on the book series by James Lee Burke, In the Electric Mist tackles murder, mobsters, Hollywood drama… and apparitions of long-dead confederate soldiers. The film begins with Detective Dave Robicheaux (Tommy Lee Jones) investigating the murder of a young woman in his small parish town while dealing with the influx of irresponsible Hollywood star Elrod Sykes (Peter Sarsgaard). While filming a civil war epic, Elrod discovers the remains of a man killed decades earlier, a crime Dave himself witnessed but did not report. Adding to the intrigue is the appearance of ghosts from a forgotten era: confederate soldiers lead by Gen. John Bell Hood. Offering advice and direction to Dave, the specter of Hood may seem disjointed, but in Cajun country, full of real and imagined ghosts, it’s not hard to imagine. As more murders occur and secrets from the past are brought to light, will Dave succeed in stopping a vicious killer? Jones delivers a believable portrayal of a tortured, redemptive officer who must right the wrongs of the past and the present. Adding to the authenticity and beauty of this Cajun tale, five-time Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy appears and performs in the film. One final mystery still remains: will we see more of Dave Robicheaux, or will more adaptations be confined to the reader’s imagination? -- Lesley Puhrmann

Stills from In the Electric Mist (Click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

Movie based on James Lee Burke Book

Reviewed by Sandy J, 2010-02-14

In trying to read EVERY possible novel by my newest, most fav author, Amazon has been a treasure chest!!! I have found books on cd through Amazon(PLUS a couple of movies made from a few of the books) that even our libraries don't have!!! Thank you!!!!

Tommy Lee Jones pulled it off.

Reviewed by Gina C. Lyons, 2010-02-07

They could not have pick a better actor to play Dave R. The movie was just like the book only better. Being from Louisiana I really got a charge seeing some of the places I have been in this movie and seeing Tommy Lee Jones play the part of Dave R. so well I olny hope they do another one. Thank you.

great book, ok movie

Reviewed by John Bowes, 2010-02-04

But it never took off. No real misdirection. The mystery was solved straight ahead, with no doubt. The relationship with Dave's wife never had a spark of real feeling in this movie. Two fine actors, couldn't get it done. A lot must have been left on the cutting room floor.

great

Reviewed by roland, 2010-01-11

As is always the case, the movie was much better than the book. I mean, why read a bunch of dumb pages and words in a book, when I can get the whole thing in a movie and it takes less time. I love this movie, and I'm glad that I won't have to read books anymore since the movies make them so much better like in this movie. Who has time to read books these days? It's like, I have to go on myspace and facebook to chat and like totally tell my friends about going shopping at the mall and all this stuff. But I like this movie too.

It leaves an Impression, Just not a Great One

Reviewed by Teriek Williams, 2009-12-08

In the Electric Mist comes after Tommy Lee Jones's resurgence with No Country for Old Men and In the Valley of Elah. The storyline of the film, a sequel of sorts from 1996's Heaven's Prisoners, follows Sheriff David Robicheaux's investigation of the grisly murders of prostitutes and the shady underlings of post-Katrina Louisiana. As Robicheaux investigates the matter, he is reminded of an unsolved murder of an African-American man during segregation in the American south, which becomes closer connected to the prostitute murders. Meanwhile, Robicheaux is visited by Confederate General John Bell Hood who helps frame events, situations and occurrences into perspective. The fantasy of these meetings further influences and affects Robicheaux investigation. Erasing the usual dichotomy of good and evil, Jones' portrayal of Dave Robicheaux is complex as he is passively aggressive, occasionally violent, procedurally unethical yet likable as a family man in a vigilante sort of way.

The premise of the film entwines American's shameful past and its disingenuous claim of "change" in the present. However, the film tackles too many issues leading to the glossing over of some and the unfocused explorations or overcompensated view of others. As a detective film, it fails to proceed as one due to the many detours of racial politics and surrealist fantasy. Although the fantasy aspects are slightly interesting, a director such as David Lynch would have made these "meetings" far more lucid, surreal and polarizing. Director Alan Parker would have made a more faithful and wholehearted attempt at focusing upon the racial aspect without trivializing it through the other aspects of the film. Completely ignored from the storyline is the severity of the murders of young, innocent girls who are manipulated into prostitution. The characters in the film are also rarely engaging as they demonstrate promise yet never live up to it. In some cases, it seems unclear what certain characters bring to the story aside from dialogue to add to the running time of the film.

Altogether, it is a decent film with generally interesting plot that holds up in the end. However, the conclusion is not as shocking as one would expect or hope and the "outer-body" experiences seem less significant as the time goes by. In the Electric Mist does not leave a great impression but based on its merits and tackling of important subject matter and content, it does leave an impression. In the Electric Mist comes off as mix of Mississippi Burning, Lost Highway and No Country for Old Men without being as deep, visually enthralling or satisfying as any of them.