Giuseppe Capotondi’s The Burnt Orange Heresy is a film focused on truth, or the lack of it from certain key figures. The film opens on art critic James Figueras (Claes Bang, The Square) delivering a meticulously planned presentation to a group of aging tourists which incisively frames the role of critic as a gatekeeper of value. In one telling moment, a painting from an “important” artist is highly sought after by the audience, and the same painting is cast aside when it is revealed that is was painted by James himself. Works of art obviously move people every day, but is it because individuals are truly responding to something or because they are told it is a great work of art? This is pleasing food for thoughts for these transitory souls, but these words resonate on a deeper level for the mysterious woman in the back of the room, Berenice Hollis (Elizabeth Debicki, Tenet). After a whirlwind tryst, James invites Berenice to accompany him on a getaway to the summer house of ruthless art collector Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger). The ramifications of this trip will impact these two permanently.
Still relative strangers, James and Berenice slowly learn more about one another as the trip progresses. James is barely staying afloat financially as he numbs the pain of his failures with prescription pills. James wanted to be an artist from a young age, but he was told early on that his skills were better suited to discussing art rather than creating it. He is still fixated on becoming a success, even if he has to compromise his integrity. He is suspicious of Berenice, who claims to be from Minnesota but is cagey with many other details. This is interesting, as she is a figure who truly seems to value truth, both in art and in life. During their visit, the casually devious Cassidy reveals that a famous, enigmatic artist, Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland) has taken up residence in a dilapidated cabin on his compound. Cassidy offers James the opportunity to land a career-defining interview with Debney if he will assist him in procuring a work of art from the reclusive genius. Ever the opportunist, James agree to steal a painting, while keeping Berenice in the dark.
The Burnt Orange Heresy is technically a thriller, but it seems content to swat away moments of momentum throughout most of its runtime. The film is something of a slow burn, but it rarely takes time to ratchet up the dramatic tension until the final half hour of the film. This is not to say that the movie is not entertaining; the movie really shines when the always-excellent Donald Sutherland is present to deliver his stoic, sagely musings to the captivating Elizabeth Debicki. James and Berenice fall into the good graces of Debney easily, but James is not prepared for what he learns when Debney chooses to give them a peak behind the curtain. When the tension does start to bubble up, it is due to the clashing beliefs that were established early on. Does Berenice’s idealized truth have a proper place in the cutthroat art world? Is James so invested in making a name for himself that he will compromise his sense of morality? Character choices can often be bewildering or frustrating, but they are somewhat believable within the context of the world that is established.
This is a film that has a lot going for it, even if it falls short of being truly great. It serves as a decent throwback to the grounded thrillers of the 1970s. The film oozes a film noir ethos that can be quite captivating in the latter half of the film. The cinematography serves up a visually sumptuous portrait of the lives of those entrenched in the arts. All of the performers are doing great work, with special attention paid to the otherworldly Debicki, who seems to be the most aware of what the movie needs from scene to scene. Mick Jagger returns to cinema for the first time in years in a role that will keep you guessing whether or not he is truly malicious. All of these elements are firing on all cylinders, but the main mysteries that are presented are just not all that compelling. The climax of the film works extremely well, but you may find yourself feeling like the material did not earn it. While not perfect, I am grateful movies such as this one are still being made for adults. With a little fine tuning, we might be able get something truly exceptional next time.
Video Quality
The Burnt Orange Heresy comes to Blu-Ray with a gorgeous AVC encoded 1080p transfer. Despite the subject matter, this is not a film that is bursting with colors, but everything appears very natural from the greens of the foliage to the pops of color in the paintings. The color palette favors a blue push that serves the film well. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail in even the subtlest aspects. Everything from the smallest facial details to the texture of paint on canvas is precisely detailed here. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of macroblocking during a few darker scenes. Black levels could stand to be a bit deeper, but at least skin tones are natural throughout. The film sports some luscious cinematography, and that is showcased pretty well here. Overall, this is a fine looking transfer.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that does the trick. Dialogue is the main driving force of the film, and there are never any issues with clarity or voices being overwhelmed by competing elements. Surround speakers do not get much of a workout outside the light patter of crowd scenes and some ambient environmental sounds. The mysterious, sly score from Craig Armstrong (Moulin Rouge!) likewise surrounds you in the track. Activity in the low end is not much of a factor here outside a few kinetic moments here and there. Nothing is really going to blow you out of your seat with this track, but it is perfectly acceptable for the type of movie you are watching.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Giuseppe Capotondi provides a pretty standard track in which he discusses the themes of the movie, the classic Hollywood feel of the film, the history of specific locations, Easter eggs in the movie, the psychology of the characters and more. He definitely does not feel the need to fill every minute of the runtime with information, which leaves large swaths of silence throughout. The track is interesting, but it maybe could have used someone else there to tee up questions for him.
- Behind The Burnt Orange Heresy: An eleven-minute look at the film with the cast and crew in which they discuss their characters, the themes of the film, the stylistic choices and more. This is a quick, fun overview of the film.
- Trailer: A two-minute trailer which dials up the intrigue pretty well. There are some spoilery images that lack context, so it is pretty effective at drawing you into the story.
Final Thoughts
The Burnt Orange Heresy has so many incredible individual elements, but it stumbles when it comes to combining them all into something truly noteworthy. Nevertheless, the journey is one worth taking due to the strong performances and the tension-filled climax. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has provided a pretty great A/V presentation and a few substantial special features. For those looking for something that harkens back to the story-driven dramas of the 1970s, consider checking this one out sooner rather than later. Recommended
The Burnt Orange Heresy is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
