Blaze (Paul Newman)

REVIEW
Shelton, who wrote and directed the terrific Bull Durham, is in very good form with this sexy and funny story based on Blaze Starr's autobiographical novel about the famous stripper's "scandalous" affair with Louisiana governor Earl Long. The film tells the entertaining story of how country girl Blaze moved to the big city (New Orleans) and became mistress to the powerful "Guv'nor" Long. Shelton has a keen ear for romantic repartee, and Blaze is at its best in these scenes between Long and Starr. Newman gives a full-blooded, larger-than-life characterization as Long and Davidovich is well cast physically but lacks the spark to set her rising Starr apart from other film ecdysiasts.