Heaven's Prisoners

REVIEW
A troubled, recovering-alcoholic ex-cop (Alec Baldwin) and his wife (Kelly Lynch) enter a hazy world of drug trafficking, cover-up and disloyalty when a small plane crashes into the Bayou not far from their boat. The only survivor is a very young Salvadorian refugee, whom the couple take into their home. The arrival of a DEA agent leads Baldwin to old childhood friend Eric Roberts, now a drug dealer, and his perpetually intoxicated wife Teri Hatcher. Also involved is Mary Stuart Masterson, who struggles valiantly against type as a stripper. As the story progresses, layers of deceit are peeled away. Baldwin's attempts to secure the orphaned girl's safety lead him too close to the activities of a drug-smuggling ring, placing those closest to him in imminent danger. Though overly long, the film adroitly defines a mood of despondency and captures the feel of the Louisiana Bayou. And though not entirely successful in its execution, the film remains an adult and thoughtful examination of what we choose to value in life, what drives us, and what we sacrifice for our beliefs.