X
- 1989
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 2 h
- 1989
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 2 h
Summary A middle-aged Louisiana governor (Paul Newman) falls in love with a young stripper (Lolita Davidovich), jeopardizing his political career and the radical policies which have made him a controversial figure.
Directed By: Ron Shelton
Written By: Blaze Starr, Huey Perry, Ron Shelton
- 1989
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 2 h
- 1989
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 2 h
Blaze
67
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
Summary A middle-aged Louisiana governor (Paul Newman) falls in love with a young stripper (Lolita Davidovich), jeopardizing his political career and the radical policies which have made him a controversial figure.
Directed By: Ron Shelton
Written By: Blaze Starr, Huey Perry, Ron Shelton
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
67
71% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
29% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
67
71% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
29% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Blaze is essentially a farce with moral overtones. Newman appropriately plays Long for laughs, but he also shows us a complex man with some admirable characteristics and much sadness inside. [15 Dec 1989, p.3F]
If Blaze is not historically or psychologically reliable, it is a reliable good time. This is a meaningless movie, but there's no
arguing with Ron Shelton's skills as a frothy screwball romantic: in Blaze, nobody gets burned. [14 Dec 1989]
The film, with Newman's riveting performance, is an exceptional portrait of an oddball politician who is equal parts scoundrel and folk hero, wielding power with a quirky, almost cantankerous charm, while also pulling strings in a loyal and powerful Southern political machine. [13 Dec 1989, p.E1]
Blaze is a celebration of the sporting life, as zesty as Cajun music and as tickly as a feather boa.
Blaze has been beautifully photographed by Haskell Wexler in the soft, lulling colors of the Louisiana countryside, against which Ms. Davidovich's amusingly garish costumes stand out as markedly as they're meant to. The costumes, by Ruth Myers, are particularly good, with ice-cream-colored suits for Mr. Newman that allow him to dominate the film visually just as surely as he dominates it dramatically.
Blaze is hugely enjoyable, with fluid, sensual camera work by Haskell Wexler and Ruth Myer's cheerfully outrageous costumes that savor every inch of Davidovich. There's a real feeling about Long's henchmen, Gailard Sartain in particular, as the aide who hates what Blaze is doing to the boss' chances, but grudgingly comes to admire her spirit. But Blaze is also puzzling. It peaks too soon, and having teased us with these legendary characters, it goes almost prim when it comes to seeing them in action.
Shelton obviously wants to distill something innocent and romantic from a relationship the world saw as sleazy. A noble mission. But he's left out a few essentials — like the facts.
User Reviews
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Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
American Society of Cinematographers, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Political Film Society, USA
• 1 Nomination
