Heaven’s Prisoners (1996, Alec Baldwin, Kelly Lynch)

In Heaven’s Prisoners Alec Baldwin is recovering alcoholic ex-New Orleans cop Dave Robicheaux who, with wife Kelly Lynch, has retired to the bayous, where they run a bait shop. But out on the lake one day, they witness a plane crash that changes their lives. The sole survivor is a Spanish speaking child (Samantha Lagpacan) who they take in. But she has a dangerous secret and their lives are suddenly invaded by DEA agents, drugs runners and hitmen, all suggesting it would be healthier to keep their noses out of other people’s business.

When Lynch is murdered, Baldwin starts looking for answers, from old friend and shady character Eric Roberts, his wife Teri Hatcher and stripper Mary Stuart Masterson, all of whom have information but all of which leads him further into a dangerous world of drugs and illegal immigrant smuggling. As the body count rises, Baldwin has to resort to all his cunning to just stay alive and avenge his wife…

Based on a novel by James Lee Burke, Harley Peyton and Scott Frank’s screenplay contains twists, turns and double crosses galore while Joanou’s set pieces match his work on Final Analysis. Baldwin’s central performance as a driven man trying to hold himself together in a dangerous world is matched by Roberts’ hint of viciousness beneath his banter, while Masterson, in her brief appearance, does her best to steal the film.

production details
USA / 132 minutes / 1996

Director: Phil Joanou
Writers: Harley Peyton, Scott Frank from the novel by James Lee Burke,

cast
Alec Baldwin as Dave Robicheaux
Kelly Lynch as Annie Robicheaux
Eric Roberts as Bubba Rocque
Teri Hatcher as Claudette Rocque
Vondie Curtis-Hall as Minos P. Dautrieve
Badja Djola as Batist
Samantha Lagpacan as Alafair
Joe Viterelli as Didi Giancano
Tuck Milligan as Jerry Falgout
Hawthorne James as Victor Romero
Don Stark as Eddie Keats
Carl A. McGee as Toot
Chris Krisea as Priest
Mary Stuart Masterson as Robin Gaddis
Paul Guilfoyle as Det. Magelli