Point of Origin

2002
5.8| 1h26m| R| en| More Info
Released: 20 June 2002 Released
Producted By: HBO Films
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

An arson investigator searching for the perpetrator of a string of deadly fires in 1980s California.

Genre

Drama, Thriller, Crime

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Point of Origin (2002) is currently not available on any services.

Director

Newton Thomas Sigel

Production Companies

HBO Films

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Point of Origin Audience Reviews

EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise
Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.
Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.
frankbullitt_stevemcquee just asking does anyone know where i can get a copy of this movie at???if anyone can give me a link or other ???would be totally appreciated and helpful???cause wants to see this movie,but not sure of where i can get a copy of it?one of my relatives is in this movie and I'm curious on what she did in this movie and how she did as well..she has done some other movies...just not a lot of them. i guess it be curiosity on how things went in this movie for her???i was shocked to find her name out on this site...and saw name of this movie..so know i want to find it,so i can see it and give her a opinion on how she did and looked in it???
imahandful First I will admit that this movie is coming on as I sit here writing. I have, however, read both Joseph Wambaugh's book, Fire Lover, and John Orr's book, Point of Origin.Point of Origin is a fact-based work of fiction by a firefighter in Southern California. Joseph Wambaugh's book describes him as a wanna-be police officer. (This is based on public records). Several of the fires that occur in Point of Origin are real fires that were set by John Orr. As determined by different juries.The reason that the "witnesses see" this other man and believe him to be responsible for the fires is because of the time-delay devices that were used in setting the fires. These fires were actually set 15-30 minutes before they broke into flames and discovered. Witnesses were questioned about people in the area immediately prior to the breakout of the fires. The particular types of incendiary devices used are destroyed by either the fire or the extinguishing process.5 minutes into the movie and the only difference I see between the books and the movie is that the child in the opening scene, with the ice cream cone and his grandmother, (both were killed in the Ole's Home Repair Store fire).In real life he was only about 3 years old.For the best version with all details, please see Fire Lover.
UnCritic Well the IMDB crowd didn't seem to think much of it but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel that in many ways this HBO production based on a stranger-than-fiction arson investigation is the best that small screen productions can be. However, beware aspiring filmmakers, it doesn't follow the classic Sid Field story arc.The movie was directed by one of the finest cinematographers in recent times; just check his IMDB profile-- http://us.imdb.com/Name?Sigel,+Newton+Thomas. I look forward to seeing his future works.If the story catches your interest, you might want to track down a NOVA special entitled "Hunt for the Serial Arsonist", and compare the screenplay to the facts of the case including interviews with investigator John Orr.
mkteku beautifully shot, very clever camera usage, full of visual ideas. THIS IS WHAT MAKES A GOOD MOVIE A GREAT ONE. of course the story is important, most of the times is the most important part, but when a film like this comes along... (and this story is not dull at all, it is not what i meant) brilliant!