16/365 The Burning Plain

Starring:   Charlize Theron, Kim Basinger, John Corbett, Danny Pino

Genre: Drama

Discovery:  Filmed in NM, plus some buddies work on it.  Had to check it out.

Summary:  I’ll do my best with this since it is told in a non-linear way.  Two stories seemingly unrelated end up being linked together by a common thread, Sylvia (Charlize Theron).  A young girl Mariana who accidently kills her mom and lover in a fire accident.  After their death she falls in love with the son of the man she killed.  CUT TO: Promiscuous woman, Sylvia, is going from man to man without any connection what so ever.  Until she gets contacted by one of her friends from her past.  That opens up her world in a way you can’t see coming.

First Glance:  Love me some non-linear story telling.  It is one of my favorite gags that films use.  No joke though that this flick confused me.  It took a second viewing for me to really appreciate some of the nuances.  The acting is top notch, specifically from Charlize.  She brings it.  In one scene, she is sitting by the water, face wracked with pain, and then she starts ‘cutting’.  That moment was not glorified but played with the delicate balance it deserved.  The cinematography was beautiful, as I expected it would be.  Guillermo Arriaga is a top notch writer who has a gift for creating these complex, messy characters.  No one-dimensional people here.

Deeper Look:  This movie is bleak.  In fact, I almost hated it because as much as I love ‘realistic’ movies, it drives me nuts when you don’t give me some hope to balance it out.  If you are strong enough to get through to the end you will be rewarded with a glimmer.  It isn’t much but it is there.  Such a small thing, yet speaks volumes.

What I Took Away from this Movie:  In the midst of depression, you MUST see the light.

Final Glimpse: See it on a day you are not feeling fragile.