Directed by Robert Harmon, Benefit of the Doubt is the eighth instalment in the Jesse Stone movie series. The film picks up after the events of Innocents Lost and stars Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler, William Devane, and Saul Rubinek.
In the movie, Jesse has faded from sight and no one has seen him for months. In the meantime, officers Rose Gammon and “Suitcase” Simpson have moved on from their police duties and Paradise’s new chief of police, William Butler has settled into his role.
However, when Butler and recently reinstated officer Anthony D’Angelo are murdered in an explosion, Jesse is called back into service. He quickly gets to work on the case, trying to figure out who would want Butler and D’Angelo dead.
But with Rose and “Suitcase” no longer involved in police work, Jesse has to face up to being the sole police presence in town. This means he will also have to use all his skills to track down the murderer alone.
Breaking away from the standard formula of Jesse Stone films, which generally see Jesse working on two unrelated crimes at once, Benefit of the Doubt focuses its story purely on one case: The murder of Butler and D’Angelo. This case becomes the main plot line of the film, with Jesse’s attempts to get back into the swing of things filling in the rest of the story.
Thankfully the double murder case is an intriguing one, and Jesse’s continuing life complications are interesting too. His interactions with recurring characters such as Dr. Dix and Captain Healy are always worth a watch, and his attempts to reconnect with Rose and “Suitcase” Simpson are also enjoyable.
For this instalment, Rose and “Suitcase” only feature in small cameos, and in the case of Rose (and actress Kathy Baker), this is her swan song from the film series. This is a bit of a shame, especially when it comes to Rose, as these are great characters, but the reduced appearances of these two helps to mix things up a touch, and it forces Jesse back into action.
With some of Jesse’s supporting players out of the picture, and just one crime to concentrate on, it’s up to actor Tom Selleck to do what he does best and drive the story forward. As usual, he doesn’t miss a beat and he remains a compelling screen presence.
Even when Jesse is sat drinking coffee or combing through papers, it’s difficult not to be invested in whatever Selleck is doing. He is the beating heart of these films and he continues to dazzle.
His involvement in the series, as actor, executive producer, and co-writer (he co-wrote Benefit of the Doubt with Michael Brandman), demonstrates how much he enjoys this series. This comes across on screen, and it is why this film series is one of the most consistent.
With this being the eighth chapter, I believe it’s fair to say things don’t feel quite so fresh as they once did, but this doesn’t dramatically impact what’s on offer. Benefit of the Doubt ticks all the usual boxes and provides plenty of entertainment for fans.
I also believe Benefit of the Doubt is a slight step up from the previous film, Innocents Lost. That film had some pacing issues and a bit of an iffy story, while this one brings things back in line with the earlier movies and sees Jesse more or less back on form.
To put things simply, if you’re a fan of the series, you’ll be happy with what’s on offer in Benefit of the Doubt. It’s Jesse Stone doing what he does best and that should please those who have stuck with the series.
Should you wish to check out Benefit of the Doubt, the film is available on DVD and digital download from all major entertainment platforms, including Amazon US.
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