The Burnt Orange Heresy

The real artists are BS artists in this story. Everyone is a scammer and a liar. Berenice Hollis (Elizabeth Debicki ) throws herself at art critic James Figueras (Claes Bang). James takes her with him on a visit to see collector Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger). On his estate is recluse artist Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland ) who has been in seclusion after a fire destroyed his collection. James is granted an informal interview with Debney. I thought Jagger did a great job. The characters over-all were not well developed. All of them practiced deception and not in an entertaining manner. Guide: F-word, sex, nudity (Elizabeth Debicki)

Compelling elements of Hitchcock-style cinema are interwoven with philosophical characteristics such as meaning of art and dark side of human soul in Giuseppe Capotondi's "The Burnt Orange Heresy" performed by an ensemble cast. This adaptation of Charles Willeford's 1971 novel carries the story to present and moves it from Florida to Lake Como, Italy. Under Capotondi's direction of the refreshed script everything works beautifully both in artistic and philosophical levels. The thin line between art world and underworld, questioning of art criticism, and "reading" of an art piece in terms of acquired notion and illusion are some of the intriguing points the movie provokes. James Figueras, an art critic willing to do literally anything to keep his fame and wealth (played by Danish actor Claes Bang) and American adventurer Berenice Hollis (Elizabeth Debicki) convey one of the most memorable performances and shine in the best screen chemistry I've seen in recent years. The other highlight is definitely Donald Sutherland as reclusive painter Jerome Debney who lives under care of an ambitious art collector Joseph Cassidy, a surprise cameo by Mick Jagger. The Burnt Orange Heresy offers a cinematic feast as perfectly crafted neo-noir thriller with immaculate acting. Two thumbs up, way up!

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. :-)

"The Burnt Orange Heresy" (2019 release from Italy; 98 min.) brings the story of art critic James Figueras. As the movie opens, James is in Milan, Italy, giving an art critic presentation about some painting. In the audience is Berenice, an American from Duluth. Afterwards, these two hook up. James mentions that he has been invited by art dealer Joseph Cassidy to his summer estate at Lake Como, and would she like to come along? Berenice agrees, and out to Lake Como they drive. It's not long after when Cassidy reveals his reasons for inviting James to his lakeside estate... At this point we are 10 min. into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience , you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out. Couple of comments: this movie is the latest from Italian director Giuseppe Capotondi. Here he brings the big screen adaptation of the book of the same name by Charles Willeford. I haven't read the book and hence can't comment how closely the film sticks to the book. Also, this movie is super-plot heavy, so I can't say anything more about how it all unfolds. Instead, I will simply say this: the movie's built-up takes a long time (pretty much the first hour), and all is then revealed in the last half hour, so just make sure you wait out the first hour... Tce acting performances are tops: Danish actor Claas Bang (wjo looks just like Pierce Brosnan) as James, Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki as Berenice, Donald Sutherland as he recluse painter Jerome Debney, and last but not least, Mick Jagger as the art dealer Cassidy. Now a crisp 77 years young, this is Jagger's first feature film role out of the Stones since 2001's "The Man from Elysian Fields", if you can believe it. Much of the movie plays out at Lake Como, and the lush photography really helps the film. Kudos also for the nice orchestral score from Scottish composer Craig Armstrong. "The Orange Burnt Heresy" premiered at last year's Venice film festival to good acclaim, and it was supposed to be released in US theaters in March. Then a little thing called COVID-19 happened. The film finally opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati and I could wait to see it. (The theater strictly abides by all COVID-19 measures including social distancing and face masks.) The early Sunday evening screening where I saw this at was attended poorly (3 people including myself). If you are interested in an arts-focuses thriller that delivers in the last half hour, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

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.

Late one night Brian Jones appeared to Mick Jagger in a dream. "Hello, Mick! How's it feel being a dried-up old fossil?" "It beats being dead, mate." "Ha-ha, everyone dies, Mick. But I got there first. I taught you how to play the harmonica. I taught you how to get girls. I founded the Rolling Stones! You owe me. Anyway, the Devil has me, and he wants you. But you can make Satan happy and get me out of hell. All you have to do is make the worst movie of all time!" "It's a trick," Mick thought. "It's a burnt umber conspiracy!" The Devil had been trying to snare Mick for years. All those millions of fans, the hit records, the endless sex and fame, he'd earned it all by working hard and staying clean and sober. But the Devil was jealous. And he knew Mick's only weakness. Mick wanted to be a movie star. "Every movie I make is bad, but can I really make the worst movie of all time? What if it's just slightly bad, like all the others?" Mick knew the Devil was just waiting to pounce. "Okay, Mick, you're a hundred years old, and you're an art collector. A man of wealth and taste! But there's one painter you can't collect. He lives next door and he's got a whole shed full of paintings. You only want one. But he won't give it to you!" "So I kill him with my bare hands and steal the painting. I set the shed on fire and go on a killing spree!" "No, you're too old and feeble to do anything like that. You hire a young art critic to steal the painting." "And then he goes on a killing spree?" "Well, sort of. He kills the old artist, sets the shed on fire, and runs out with the painting. But it's really just a blank canvas! So then he paints a fake picture of his own, and says it's the masterpiece you were looking for. And you believe him because you're such an expert collector. And just to be sure no-one else figures out what he did, he kills his girlfriend." "Right, is she a bit of a floozy, then? Like, look at that stupid girl?" "No, she's really nice. She's crazy about him even though she knows he's a lousy painter and a lousy person. But he just has to be rich and famous because he wants to be just like you!" "You know, this sounds like it could be the worst movie of all time. Let's do it!" Mick mumbled his way through the dreary film shoot, making funny faces, rolling his eyes, anything to keep from falling asleep. Now and then he looked over at the stunning blonde who played the girl friend, and thought about what he could have done to her fifty years ago. Or forty years ago. Or even thirty years ago . . . But it was no use. Time waits for no-one. And Mick Jagger was out of time. On the last day of the shoot, he gave the blonde a hug, and then fell to the floor clutching his chest. It was his heart, and they'd warned him not to exert himself. "Worst movie of all time," he muttered. "Worst movie of all time!" Like a true rock hero, Mick Jagger had kept his part of the bargain, and he was sure he would go to heaven. The only bad part was that Brian Jones would probably get there first. Again.