The Burning Plain (2009)

Perfect cast and a good story

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

I did not even realize Mariana was Jennifer Lawrence until half way through The Burning Plain. She was younger with different hair color in this movie compared to her her most famous role in the Hunger Games franchise. After all said and done, after watching The Burning Plain, the only truly lasting impression I have left is the hauntingly disturbing performance by Jennifer Lawrence when she was still in her teens. The movie itself generally was interesting in its use of time shifts and parallel story-telling, as well as the empathetic performance by Kim Basinger. *Spoiler warning again*There is a little too much of cookie-cutter resolution, e.g. Theron's predictable and unconvincing "shaping up" by the end. There is also just too much gap between the character played by Jennifer Lawrence and Theron; it doesn't convince as the same person. One could argue life has changed her, but the very core and essence of the person seem different. I am somewhat of a Theron fan especially with these unflattering movies she has been making, but I have become a bigger Lawrence fan after this movie, which is surprising since I thought I was impressed a lot by her turn in The Silver Linings Playbook. The Burning Plains shows off the potential of the actress, which can be seen to lead to wonderful performances like in Silver Linings.However, having also seen Hunger Games: Mockingjay, which is one of the worst films I have seen, I truly hope Lawrence and her people see the wisdom of letting her develop her true talents and express herself more before being cast into those types of movies. Her X-Men roles really do not help much here, either. Still, I would recommend people to watch Burning Plain, which "IS" a good movie, on a much higher plane than films like Mockingjay and X- Men anyway. I just wish its ending could have been more consonant with the ominous tone of the movie and that in the future the director does not feel the need to tie up all loose ends.

"The Burning Plain", directed and written by Guillermo Arriaga, follows the template of Arriaga's earlier screenplays ("21 Grams", "Babel"). Here we're treated to a non-linear, multi-strand narrative in which events unfold out of sequence. Unlike the films of Atom Egoyan, which analytically do the same thing, Arriaga's tone is melodramatic, sentimental, and overly impressed with its familiar soap opera elements.The film contains a number of big-name actresses (Kim Basinger, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron), all of whom are stuck in a plot comprised of much adultery, affairs and secret rendezvous. Families are torn apart and new relationships come together, before the film ends on a note of tragedy. The film contains some excellent aerial footage, Arriaga's camera following New Mexican crop dusters.6/10 – Worth one viewing.

Films about interlocked fragmented stories aren't anything new to writer and director Guillermo Arriaga. As director, 'The Burning Plain' is his first feature film and its quite apparent that he has poured his heart into it. Here too the film involves three stories that are told separately but linked by the first scene.However, the non-linearity of storytelling is initially confusing but once the tragic link is made apparent, the gut-wrenching conclusion (that explains the explosion shown in the first scene) hits the viewer hard. The setting is very simplistic but rich in atmosphere especially with the dark subtle undertones. The beautiful score contributes well.Arriaga has gathered an impressive ensemble of actors who deliver wonderfully understated performances. Charlize Theron portrays Sylvia with a subtle intensity. Kim Basinger is skillfully restrained and Jennifer Lawrence shows tremendous potential. John Corbett, Robin Tunney, José María Yazpik, Rachel Ticotin, Brett Cullen, Tessa Ia and Joaquin de Almeida provide great support.Despite the initial confusion, the narrative is strong. There are a few clichés that could have been avoided, such as the confession scene in the hospital, but these are very minor and don't effect the impact of the film. In the end, 'The Burning Plain' is a solid film.

The Burning Plain, a romantic mystery about a woman on the edge who takes an emotional journey back to the defining moment of her life. Written and directed by Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel). It is a heart breaking, touching movie. It follows the formula of having a main story with various sub-stories that in the end their paths are crossed. The rhythm is a little slow, it continuously changes from story to story making it hard to follow and a little boring at some moments. The cast is good. Charliza Theron, Kim Basinger John Corbett, Robin Tunney, Jose Maria Yazpik, everyone delivering very convincing performances although some of them are a little overacted as well. In conclusion, If you've seen Babel or 21 Grams or Amores Perros, all of them written by Ariaga, then you know what to expect with The Burning Plain