Tudo pela Arte

When I first heard of THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY, fairly early in 2020, I was eager to see almost anything "new" that might be coming out, because of the pandemic shut-down. It didn't become available for purchase until late in the year, if memory serves, but I bought it. And then, it sat on my shelf until early 2022. By the time I got it, there was more new content available. Shinier, flashier "new' movies to watch. But I finally got around to it the other day, and I'm sure glad I did.

Claes Bang is James, an lecturer on art criticism in Milan who we soon see is filled with self-loathing at not being a great artist, or at least the curator of a major museum and an important person in the art world. It seems he was headed in that direction, but his own shady ethics tripped him up. Early in the film, he meets the intriguing Berenice (Elizabeth Debicki) an American on some kind of extended holiday from her small Minnesota town. The two strike up a fling and James invites Berenice to join him on his upcoming visit to the Lake Como home of the filthy rich and very renowned art collector Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger). James hopes he might be landing a gig writing about Cassidy's collection, but no, he's given the chance to interview Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland), the most reclusive famous artist in the world, an opportunity to start his downward career back upward again. All he must do is compromise his already pretty malleable ethics.

First off, this is a very talky film. It does deal with a "caper" of sorts, but it's mostly clever, educated people trying to out-clever each other. The dialogue is rich and witty and sounds nothing like how real people would talk. HOWEVER, it's still a blast to revel for 90 brisk minutes in a world full of people who live in a very distinct, hermetic world. And it's a film that's neatly constructed enough that we have no trouble understanding the plot and the stakes. We have no issues quickly understanding that no one in the film is really showing their true selves (or if they are, their true selves are pretty slimy).

The cast is terrific; they're the best reason to see this film. I very much enjoyed the plot and the dialogue and even the scenery. But these are not characters we'll warm up to immediately, if at all. It takes some great performances to draw the viewer in. Bang (who was terrific in THE SQUARE, another movie in which he plays a person in the highest echelons of art) is great. He's charming and witty, but you can always smell the desperation on him. Debicki is the closest we have to a "heart" in this film, and she may be the character we root for. But there is plenty of mystery about her too, and she is a striking figure. Sutherland is delightful as the reclusive artist, full of a great mix of sliminess and charm. He always seem one step ahead of everyone. Everyone, that is, except Jagger's billionaire. Jagger's character is clearly a "bad guy", but he brings such sting to every insult he casually let's drop from his lips. It may not be the technically greatest performance you'll ever see, but Jagger is clearly so deeply delighted with playing this character, you cannot help but love every minute of his fairly brief appearance.

As the machinations of plot get ever more complex, and the ethical (and criminal) choices made play out, the pace of the film matches. Director Giuseppe Capotondi apparently understands that this thing is so talky that it needs to move fast. He lets us enjoy the actors, but things keep moving. It's too outrageous to allow us much time to think about it. This is a caper/heist film in which the heist is NOT the payoff. It's the build up to it, and the rather unexpected aftermath that are key. I can easily envision a director taking a leisurely approach to this: let's spend lots of time looking at these lovely people and lovely scenery. But Capotondi doesn't waste a minute. And in the end, when the final moments play out, I had a big smile on my face. It all played out just like the tone and characters suggested it might all along.

It's a cerebral thriller, with juicy dialogue and acting. I'm very glad I finally got around to watching it!

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.

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.

I enjoyed this rather strange film. The dialog and some of the characters were a bit odd but that's what made this thing watchable. Good performances from everyone, especially from the main actor who played James. Overall, a decent watchable film with a bit of a Hitchcock style...you might like it. :-)

Very good arty thriller... you have to stay with it till the end. Some reviewers on here are just the kinds of quasi critics who think their intelligence is beyond this film. But it's actually just the opposite. And it's those who are lost and simply can't see the movie for what it is.. great fun and thrilling for those who of course watch the entire film ...and understand it's Hitchcock-ian vibes. It's not for everyone. 'Sanctify yourselves'