Blaze | Rotten Tomatoes

Blaze

R

Released Dec 13, 1989

1h 58m

Drama

List

75%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

49%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

This bawdy comedy is loosely based on the real-life relationship between Earl Long (Paul Newman), the governor of Louisiana, and burlesque performer Blaze Starr (Lolita Davidovich). While Long and his lovely lady carry on their scandalous affair, the politician also has his mind on more serious matters, including the right for local black citizens to vote. Although Long's opponents try to use his many eccentricities against him, the feisty public figure won't go down without a fight.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent Blaze on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Jan 30, 2003

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Blaze is the affectionate story of two colorful people who had the nerve to stick together, even though that didn't suit everybody's notions of propriety.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

There's sympathy and comprehension and finally love in [Davidovich's] depiction of Blaze's smiling regard for Long's eccentric personality and predicament, which find an answering resonance in Shelton's direction.

Rated: 3/4

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Bruce C. Steele

OutWeek

Not a moment is believable.

May 19, 2020

Full Review

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Supposedly based on fact regarding the relationship of Louisiana's Gov. Earl Long and his stripper girlfriend, this is noted mostly for the offbeat casting of Paul Newman.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 15, 2009

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 19, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

kevin c

Paul Newman plays Louisiana governor Earl Long, who enjoys nights out at various strip clubs. He meets and is instantly enamoured with Blaze Starr, a beautiful dancer played by Lolita Davidovich who embodies the beauty and strength of the role. Decent movie, Newman is good, Davidovich is excellent. Directed by Ron Shelton.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

Interesting story with some really fun performances.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Paul Newman is fun as usual.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/27/18

Full Review

william s

Ok little story but Newman's Long is just over the top goodness.....

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

150815: Based upon a true story, Blaze is a brief glimpse into the overlapping lives of two unique people, one a politician and one an adult entertainer. It's a love story, comedy and political satire all set in the racially charged late 50s. Well worth watching once, and can see myself coming back to it again. Newman is fantastic as Earl Long.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ron Shelton

Director

Paul Newman

Gov. Earl K. Long

Lolita Davidovich

Blaze Starr

Jerry Hardin

Thibodeaux

Gailard Sartain

LaGrange

Jeffrey DeMunn

Eldon Tuck

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

88%

73%

The Color of Money

30%

58%

Last Dance

62%

68%

Alive

TRAILER

for Alive

69%

77%

When a Man Loves a Woman

11%

51%

Chattahoochee

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

This bawdy comedy is loosely based on the real-life relationship between Earl Long (Paul Newman), the governor of Louisiana, and burlesque performer Blaze Starr (Lolita Davidovich). While Long and his lovely lady carry on their scandalous affair, the politician also has his mind on more serious matters, including the right for local black citizens to vote. Although Long's opponents try to use his many eccentricities against him, the feisty public figure won't go down without a fight.

Director: Ron Shelton
Producer: Gil Friesen
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.0M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now