Review of Blaze (1989) by John R — 26 Aug 2012

Despite the title and an aggressively charming performance from Lolita Davidovich, Paul Newman rules the movie with a showy role that wrestle for control of the film from it's titular character. The movie seems to shortchange it's focus on Blaze Starr right from the outset, with only a cursory look at her decision to jump into the world of burlesque, although with a very amusing sequence with Robert Wuhl, before it quickly introduces Newman's Earl Long into the picture.

The movie unfolds as a 60s American political fable with low-key charm and humor. Its episodic nature lacks a real sense of drive or drama to keep you fully engaged with the film. The movie is never more focused and cohesive beyond the section on Long wrestling with the hospital system, both in getting jobs for the blacks in the system and later when he is actually incarcerated in one briefly.

The material for the movie could have made for a really entertaining Earl Long film or an equally interesting Starr film with a really solid performance from Davidovich, but the movie we have here seems a disappointing compromise of the two possible films.

Of interest to fans of either lead actors, but not really a film to search out otherwise.