The acting is top notch, and the storyline for all intents and purposes was based on true life events. I enjoy both Ray Liotta and John Leguizamo's body of work but having said that I think both were incorrectly cast for their roles. Ray Liotta was younger and slimmer than the real fire starter John Leonard Orr and the film seemed to focus more on John's ego and his book writing rather than provide some level of detail on even a handful of the thousands of fires he is supposedly accountable for starting. John Leguizamo plays Keith Lang who appears to hold his mentor in the highest regard even calling him by the name "Professor", but catching the killer is not Keith Lang's desire.

Knowing that it was another fire investigator who started to solve the puzzle that it was one of their own (Arson Investigators) responsible for the mass casualties and stress on the fire departments I think more of the story should have been placed on how the crimes were solved and less on the arsonists John Leonard Orr's extra marital affairs.

All in all it was an okay time waster but I did not learn any new historical facts watching this made for TV film. I give the film a passable 6 out of 10 IMb rating.

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.

Good story. Starts out strong but weakens along the way.

Once you find out who is setting the fires, there's not much more to keep your interest. Of course it goes back and forth as to who is really the guilty party but..it gets kind of dull.