The Burnt Orange Heresy
Claes Bang (The Square), Elizabeth Debicki (Widows), Mick Jagger and Donald Sutherland star in this neo-noir thriller set in the art world of present day Italy.
"Irresistibly charismatic art critic James Figueras (Bang) hooks up with provocative and alluring fellow American, Berenice Hollis (Debicki). He's a classic anti-hero in the making with a charm that masks his ambition, whilst she's an innocent touring Europe, enjoying the freedom of being whoever she wishes. The new lovers travel to the lavish and opulent Lake Como estate of powerful art collector, Cassidy (Jagger). Their host reveals he is the patron of Jerome Debney (Sutherland), the reclusive J.D. Salinger of the art world, and he has a simple request: for James to steal a Debney masterpiece from the artist’s studio, whatever the cost. As the couple spend time with the legendary Debney, they start to realise that nothing about the artist nor their mission is what it seems. But James is a man of deep, lurking ambition and he will do anything, from arson and burglary to murder, in order to further his career…" (Venice Film Festival)
- Director:
- Giuseppe Capotondi ('The Double Hour')
- Writer:
- Scott B. Smith
- Cast:
- Elizabeth DebickiClaes BangDonald SutherlandMick JaggerRosalind HalsteadAlessandro Fabrizi
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Aaron Yap
flicksThe appeal of watching these fabulous, perfectly able performers casting aspersions on each other in the idyllic surroundings of Lake Como is not lost on me. Jagger having a ball, saying things like “Art is a harsh mistress”. Bang turning on his best peak-Brosnan urbane charm. Debicki enlivening every scene she is in. But the stars’ charisma can only do so much heavy lifting to sustain narrative interest. Giuseppe Capotondi’s direction leans toward sleepy and formally staid, lacking the pleasurable side of low-key and leisurely that generally works for this kind of material.
Stuff
pressThe Burnt Orange Heresy was a fine diversion on a grim and grey afternoon. It made me laugh, it held me in its twists and it sent me home ready to find a copy of Charles Willeford's 1971 novel.
Slant Magazine
pressThe film allows that we are complicit in privilege for our fascination and envy.
The New Yorker
pressThe idea that art, like love, is something that you can make or fake, and that surprisingly few people can tell the difference, will always be ripe for exploration. And yet the movie stumbles.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe screenplay and the actors ooze charm as well as intelligence early on but the second half is more like a sleek thriller, something that's efficient but less jocular and surprising.
Variety
pressHalfway through... the air goes out of the shaggy-dog plotting: a climactic pileup of unfortunate events is both rushed and unsurprising, leaving the actors with little room to dart and play.
Screen Daily
pressFor all the commitment that Claes Bang and Elizabeth Debicki bring to the central roles, their characters never really emerge as autonomous beings from the faintly preposterous story they're trapped in.
Flicks, Aaron Yap
flicksThe appeal of watching these fabulous, perfectly able performers casting aspersions on each other in the idyllic surroundings of Lake Como is not lost on me. Jagger having a ball, saying things like “Art is a harsh mistress”. Bang turning on his best peak-Brosnan urbane charm. Debicki enlivening every scene she is in. But the stars’ charisma can only do so much heavy lifting to sustain narrative interest. Giuseppe Capotondi’s direction leans toward sleepy and formally staid, lacking the pleasurable side of low-key and leisurely that generally works for this kind of material.
Stuff
pressThe Burnt Orange Heresy was a fine diversion on a grim and grey afternoon. It made me laugh, it held me in its twists and it sent me home ready to find a copy of Charles Willeford's 1971 novel.
Slant Magazine
pressThe film allows that we are complicit in privilege for our fascination and envy.
The New Yorker
pressThe idea that art, like love, is something that you can make or fake, and that surprisingly few people can tell the difference, will always be ripe for exploration. And yet the movie stumbles.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe screenplay and the actors ooze charm as well as intelligence early on but the second half is more like a sleek thriller, something that's efficient but less jocular and surprising.
Variety
pressHalfway through... the air goes out of the shaggy-dog plotting: a climactic pileup of unfortunate events is both rushed and unsurprising, leaving the actors with little room to dart and play.
Screen Daily
pressFor all the commitment that Claes Bang and Elizabeth Debicki bring to the central roles, their characters never really emerge as autonomous beings from the faintly preposterous story they're trapped in.
There aren't any user reviews for this movie yet.
Share