The Burnt Orange Heresy

I enjoyed The Burnt Orange Heresy film it looks very pretty and has some nice dialogue. All the cast were good and Mick Jagger was a surprise in that he played his part very well. Claes Bang seemed quite old for the part of a young and up and coming critic though.

The plot at times seemed a little strained. I read the Charles Willeford book a few years ago which possibly helped in following what was going on so far as what the characters motivations were. The film itself seems closer to something from the Tom Ripley novels than in does the book it is supposedly based on. It left out a key thing about Debney's career which everything should really hinge on, seems the script writer wanted to turn this into amost a European film noir than anything to do with the book. But it was an enjoyable hour and fourty minutes all the same.

This was an intelligent little number that challenged the viewer to decipher it's intricacies and work out the relationship of the characters.

I thought it did a good job of revealing the characters slowly over the first half and slowly their cracks started to show. Greed, perception and the lengths one will go to achieve his desire and the other will go to provide it.

As someone commented it won't suit all viewers because there is no spoon feeding or a tidy ending. The viewer must determine the motivation of each character. The addition of Mick Jagger (or should I say Sir Michael) was an interesting choice. At first I thought his lines were delivered in stilted uneven manner. But the way he fit his character like a well worn high street suit I thought this is his world. The world of high end art, servants and connections we can only dream of is where he is most comfortable. And it showed. His larger than life facial features and consistent delivery was disarming at times. I wish he'd made more movies. The main characters were a joy to watch and Donald Sutherland is a most underrated actor. What a terrific ensemble.

The ending felt a bit rushed and wasn't revealed as artfully as the start of the movie but enjoyable none the less. A second watch is guaranteed.

A 7 because it's a wonderful movie to trip over in a sea of banality that is coming out of Hollywood at the moment. More please.

Some might think it is slow-paced, but I enjoyed the slow build to a very sudden ending which seemed to explode from the first part of the story. I can't say much more without spoilers. I will say that the movie sucks you into its world and the scenery is fantastic.

P.S. Mick Jagger really needs to do more movies. He's a very good actor. In fact, all of the actors in this movie are quite talented.

The Burnt Orange Heresy isn't a film for the masses, but it's enjoyable enough. It's recommended viewing for those who enjoy independent cinema and who aren't offended by a little on-screen rumpy pumpy.

Take 4 Actors that are Talented, Eye-Pleasing, and Mysterious.

Put Them in Front of Interesting European Scenery.

Reciting Dialog that Intrigues, Stings, and Swells the Plot.

You may Not have a Masterpiece, but a Damn Good Art-World Scam that is Ripe for Soul Snatching and Fallen Angels.

An Art-Critic that "Talks about art better than he makes it".

Echoing the Standard "He who can't do teaches", makes a Living being a Con-Artist Lessoning and Pick-Pocketing Tourist in Italy.

He Dreams of an Opportunity to Really Cash-In.

Enter Wealthy, Aging, but Ageless Mick Jagger as a "Real" Mover and Shaker.

He Takes Advantage of the Porous, Pretentious People in the World of High-Priced Art Work.

A Man who is Not Interested in the Work but What the Work can Put in His Pocket.

The Critic has with Him a Beauty that has Done A Few Things and Seen a Few Things.

They Match Wits and Bodily Fluids.

She is also a Kind-Soul that Instantly Charms World Renowned Artist and Recluse, Donald Sutherland.

The Famous Painter Finds Her Equally Lovely.

They Hit it Off as Our Antagonist Art-Critic Schemes with Jagger to Get the Unwilling Artist to Give it Up for Posterity.

It's a Wordy Thriller Worthy of a Sit-Down and Appreciate and Old Story Painted with a Modern Eye.