The Electric Mist: Unraveling A Murder Mystery

In the Electric Mist is a 2009 French-American mystery drama film directed by Bertrand Tavernier and written by Jerzy Kromolowski and Mary Olson-Kromolowski. The film is based on the novel In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke and stars Tommy Lee Jones as Iberia Parish Sheriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux, a detective investigating the murder of a young woman. The film has a slow pace and a complicated lead character, with the suspense coming primarily from the personal conflict of Robicheaux.

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Tommy Lee Jones as Dave Robicheaux

In the 2009 French-American mystery drama film "In the Electric Mist", Tommy Lee Jones plays the lead role of Iberia Parish Sheriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux. The film is an adaptation of the novel "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead" by James Lee Burke.

Jones' character, Dave Robicheaux, is a detective in Louisiana who is investigating the murder of a young woman. He has a chance encounter with Hollywood stars Elrod Sykes and his girlfriend Kelly Drummond, who are in town to make a Civil War film. Due to Elrod's erratic and drunk driving, Dave decides to arrest him. Elrod then tells Dave about a decayed corpse that he and Kelly had found in the swamp. The discovery of a second body prompts the FBI to join the investigation, and Dave is partnered with agent Rosie Gomez.

Dave's character is a violent alcoholic who continually puts his family in danger. He has a strong moral code and is haunted by his own demons and those from his work as a detective. He also experiences flashbacks from his time in the Vietnam War, which include conversations with dead Confederate soldiers.

Tommy Lee Jones delivers a solid performance as Dave Robicheaux, although some critics found the film slow-paced and lacking in suspense. The film has a southern Gothic mood and is rich in Louisiana atmosphere, with Jones' performance as the conflicted detective being a key element of the film's appeal.

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A complicated shades-of-grey lead

'In the Electric Mist' is a 2009 French-American mystery drama film directed by Bertrand Tavernier. The film stars Tommy Lee Jones as Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux, a character created by novelist James Lee Burke. Robicheaux is a complicated, shades-of-grey lead. He is a man with a strong moral code, yet he is violent, alcoholic, and continually puts his family in danger. He is a recovering drunk who gets slipped LSD at a party and hallucinates a dead Confederate General who helps him with his current case.

Robicheaux is investigating the murder of a young woman and has a chance encounter with Hollywood stars Elrod Sykes and his girlfriend Kelly Drummond. Elrod drunkenly takes a boat out on the bayou with Kelly, calling Dave when the boat engines get caught in crab nets. Dave gives Kelly his coat, as it is pouring rain, and a mysterious gunman shoots her in the chest, mistaking her for him. The discovery of a second body prompts the FBI to become involved in the case. Dave is partnered with agent Rosie Gomez.

Dave's cop friend, Lou Girard, is found dead, apparently by shooting himself with a shotgun. A story from an alleged pimp corroborates a suspect, Murphy Doucet, who, with his partner Twinkie Lemoyne, is responsible for the murder of DeWitt Prejean, the skeleton found in the swamp. Dave arrests Doucet using a planted knife as evidence, but Doucet gets out on bail and kidnaps Dave's young daughter Alafair. Gomez and Dave go to Baby Feet's residence and force him to tell them about a campsite Doucet owns. They head there, and Gomez shoots Doucet. They free Alafair and return home.

Months later, Dave determines that General Hood was a figment of his imagination, a lingering spirit to help him through the most difficult case of his life. He moves on with his life, while Baby Feet, according to Dave, was arrested for tax dodging. Elrod also moves on, leaving his alcohol addiction behind; he gives Alafair a small role in the Civil War film, and claims that she had been his salvation. As the story ends, Alafair is looking through a book on the Civil War when she comes across a photograph of General Hood and his soldiers. In the photo is Dave Robicheaux, standing among the Confederate soldiers.

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A psychological crime drama

'In the Electric Mist' is a psychological crime drama film directed by Bertrand Tavernier, based on the novel 'In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead' by James Lee Burke. The film is a sequel to the 1996 film 'Heaven's Prisoners', also adapted from a Burke novel.

The story follows Iberia Parish Sheriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux (Tommy Lee Jones), a Cajun cop in Louisiana who is investigating the murder of a young woman. He has a chance encounter with Hollywood stars Elrod Sykes (Peter Sarsgaard) and his girlfriend Kelly Drummond (Kelly Macdonald), who are in town to make a Civil War film. Elrod's erratic driving leads Dave to suspect he is drunk, and he is subsequently arrested. Elrod tells Dave about a decayed corpse he and Kelly found in the swamp.

The discovery of a second body prompts the FBI to get involved, and Dave is partnered with agent Rosie Gomez (Justina Machado). While attending a birthday party, Dave becomes uncoordinated and crashes his truck on the way home. He wanders into the forest and encounters a camp of Confederate soldiers led by General John Bell Hood (Levon Helm), who offers to help Dave solve the murders. Dave later learns that his drink was laced with LSD.

Elrod drunkenly takes a boat out on the bayou with Kelly, and when the boat engines get caught, Dave gives Kelly his coat. A mysterious gunman shoots her in the chest, mistaking her for Dave. Dave struggles with feelings of guilt over Kelly's death, and Elrod moves in with him so Dave can sponsor his recovery from alcoholism. Dave's cop friend Lou Girard is found dead, and General Hood and his soldiers prepare to leave their camp. A story from a pimp corroborates a suspect in the murder of DeWitt Prejean, whose skeleton was found in the swamp. Dave arrests the suspect, but he is kidnapped by the suspect's partner and forced to give up information about a campsite.

Months later, Dave determines that General Hood was a figment of his imagination, a lingering spirit that helped him through the difficult case. The story ends with Dave moving on with his life, and Elrod giving Dave's daughter Alafair a small role in the Civil War film.

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A murder mystery with ghosts

In the Electric Mist is a murder mystery with ghosts. The 2009 French-American film is based on the novel In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke. It stars Tommy Lee Jones as Iberia Parish's Sheriff Detective Dave Robicheaux, a violent, alcoholic detective with a strong moral code who is investigating the murder of a young woman.

Robicheaux has a chance encounter with Hollywood stars Elrod Sykes and his girlfriend Kelly Drummond, who are in town to make a Civil War film. Elrod drunkenly takes a boat out on the bayou with Kelly, and when the boat engines get caught in gill nets, Robicheaux gives Kelly his coat as it is pouring rain. A mysterious gunman shoots her in the chest, mistaking her for Robicheaux.

Robicheaux is haunted by visions of Confederate General John Bell Hood, who offers him advice and helps him on his journey to solve the murders. Robicheaux also has a partner, FBI agent Rosie Gomez, who joins him in his investigation. As the story progresses, Robicheaux must confront his own demons as well as those he faces in his work as a detective.

The film has a slow pace and is rich in atmosphere, with the moody, misty Louisiana setting captured beautifully by director Bertrand Tavernier. It is a psychological crime drama that explores the cultural tension of rural Louisiana and the internal conflict of the lead character, Robicheaux. The suspense of the film comes primarily from Robicheaux's personal conflict rather than action-heavy thrills.

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The cultural tension of Louisiana

The film In the Electric Mist is a French-American production, directed by Bertrand Tavernier and based on the novel In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke. It is set in Louisiana, and the state's cultural fabric is central to the film's narrative and atmosphere.

Louisiana's unique cultural identity is well-known, with its distinctive musical heritage, culinary traditions, and a history that has seen it pass between French, Spanish, British, and American control. The state has a diverse population, with a significant African American population and Cajun and Creole communities, each with their own distinct cultural traditions.

The film's setting in rural Louisiana is key to the story's atmosphere and tension. The film follows Iberia Parish Sheriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux, played by Tommy Lee Jones, as he investigates a series of murders. Robicheaux is a Cajun cop, haunted by his own personal demons and those of his work. The character's strong moral code is contrasted with his violent tendencies, alcoholism, and the danger he brings to his family. The film explores the cultural tension between the past and present, history and future, black and white, rich and poor.

The film's exploration of Louisiana's cultural tension is also reflected in its exploration of the state's history. The film features appearances from Confederate soldiers, including General John Bell Hood, who offer advice to Robicheaux as he investigates the murders. The film also alludes to the Vietnam War, with Robicheaux experiencing flashbacks and conversations with the dead Confederate General about life, death, and war. These elements add a layer of complexity to the film's exploration of Louisiana's cultural identity, one that is shaped by its history and the tensions between different communities.

In the Electric Mist presents a complex and nuanced portrayal of Louisiana's cultural tension, utilising its setting and characters to explore the state's unique cultural fabric and the tensions that exist within it. The film's slow pace and moody atmosphere allow for a deep dive into the cultural complexities of the state, creating a rich and evocative portrayal of Louisiana.

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