The Burnt Orange Heresy. (15.)
Directed by Guiseppe Capotondi.
Starring Claus Baes, Elizabeth Debricki, Mick Jagger, Donald Sutherland. 99 mins
The lack of blockbusters during the pandemic has shown up the threadbare nature of sub-franchise offerings. 21st-century cinema is like 21st century society; sharply divided between the ultra-rich and those surviving on the breadline. If it didn't cost $200 million, it probably cost next to nothing. The Burnt Orange Heresy is an example of the kind of film that used be common but, like the affluent middle classes, has been squeezed out: a mid-range sophisticated thriller for grown-ups. It is in some ways the thing that cinema is made for: beautiful, interesting people in beautiful places (Milano and Lake Como) doing things more interesting than us poor slubs ever would.
There are only four characters in this drama and any one of them could be a liar or a cheat: Debrecki's sophisticated American tourist who claims to be a teacher from Duluth; Sutherland's reclusive painter whose studios and paintings have a habit of going up in flames or Jagger's millionaire art collector. But your initial money would be on the ambitious art critic played by Baes. All critics are lowlives but the art ones are a special breed of charlatan.
It's based on a book by Charles Willeford but it has more than a touch of Patricia Highsmith to it. Baes' hooks up with Debricki after a lecture and takes her as his date for a weekend at Jagger's lakeside abode. Jagger wants to fix him up with an interview with enigmatic artist Sutherland but wants something in return. The plot is not packed with incidents so when something dramatic does happen we feel its importance, appreciate that this character is doing something that is going to affect the rest of their life. It may be slight but there is lots of fun to be had trying to double guess it, wondering who is the fake. There's a moment when Baes questions Debricki's Duluth accent, saying they have odd vowels sounds. This is a very daring piece of dialogue to put in the mouth of someone with such a Bjork-inflected pronunciation of English.
The film is made by four fantastic performances and yes, that does include Jagger. Like Vinnie Jones, most rock stars only have one great performance in them and it is always their first (Jagger Performance/ Bowie Man who Fell To Earth/ Sting Brimstone and Treacle.) Jagger's role here suits him though; someone trying to put on airs and he completely inhabits its.
Directed by Guiseppe Capotondi.
Starring Claus Baes, Elizabeth Debricki, Mick Jagger, Donald Sutherland. 99 mins
The lack of blockbusters during the pandemic has shown up the threadbare nature of sub-franchise offerings. 21st-century cinema is like 21st century society; sharply divided between the ultra-rich and those surviving on the breadline. If it didn't cost $200 million, it probably cost next to nothing. The Burnt Orange Heresy is an example of the kind of film that used be common but, like the affluent middle classes, has been squeezed out: a mid-range sophisticated thriller for grown-ups. It is in some ways the thing that cinema is made for: beautiful, interesting people in beautiful places (Milano and Lake Como) doing things more interesting than us poor slubs ever would.
There are only four characters in this drama and any one of them could be a liar or a cheat: Debrecki's sophisticated American tourist who claims to be a teacher from Duluth; Sutherland's reclusive painter whose studios and paintings have a habit of going up in flames or Jagger's millionaire art collector. But your initial money would be on the ambitious art critic played by Baes. All critics are lowlives but the art ones are a special breed of charlatan.
It's based on a book by Charles Willeford but it has more than a touch of Patricia Highsmith to it. Baes' hooks up with Debricki after a lecture and takes her as his date for a weekend at Jagger's lakeside abode. Jagger wants to fix him up with an interview with enigmatic artist Sutherland but wants something in return. The plot is not packed with incidents so when something dramatic does happen we feel its importance, appreciate that this character is doing something that is going to affect the rest of their life. It may be slight but there is lots of fun to be had trying to double guess it, wondering who is the fake. There's a moment when Baes questions Debricki's Duluth accent, saying they have odd vowels sounds. This is a very daring piece of dialogue to put in the mouth of someone with such a Bjork-inflected pronunciation of English.
The film is made by four fantastic performances and yes, that does include Jagger. Like Vinnie Jones, most rock stars only have one great performance in them and it is always their first (Jagger Performance/ Bowie Man who Fell To Earth/ Sting Brimstone and Treacle.) Jagger's role here suits him though; someone trying to put on airs and he completely inhabits its.
