Blaze

Writer/director Ron Shelton has always been kind of a hit or miss director for me. I guess it's because he has mostly focused on sports themed movies. There's the occasional cop film, like Dark Blue or Hollywood Homicide, but he's really made his bread and butterwith movies like Bull Durham and Tin Cup. This morning, I decided to revisit the one film in his canon that doesn't fit into his other genres, 1989's Blaze.

The movie tells the story of legendary exotic dancer Blaze Starr, Lolita Davidavich, and her romance with Louisiana Governor Huey Long, Paul Newman.

Davidovich is quite good in her first starring role, but it's Newmanthat steals the picture with his over the top portrayal of the randy Governor. He is so good in this that it almost hurts the film. All attention goes towards him and not the title character who the movie is supposed to be about.

I will say that this is worth a look just for Newman's performance. But sadly at the end that is all you will probably remember about this movie.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.