The Burnt Orange Heresy

Based on a book by Charles Willeford, The Burnt Orange Heresy follows art critic James Figueras (Claes Bang) as he and a ladyfriend (Elizabeth Debicki’s Berenice) are invited to spend time with a reclusive painter named Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland) – with the weekend, set into motion by a wealthy art collector (Mick Jagger’s Joseph Cassidy), eventually taking on a decidedly dark dimension. Filmmaker Giuseppe Capotondi does an effective job of immediately capturing the viewer’s interest, as The Burnt Orange Heresy opens with a compelling sequence detailing James’ fascinating lecture to a paid audience – with the movie, past that point, progressing into a stagnant midsection dominated by relentless art-world chatter. It’s a vibe that inevitably passes from somewhat intriguing to decidedly oppressive, with the stage-play-like atmosphere sporadically alleviated by the uniformly stirring performances (eg Jagger certainly makes the most of his limited screen time, to be sure). And while the picture eventually (and somewhat inexplicably) morphs into an entertainingly over-the-top thriller, The Burnt Orange Heresy has long-since cemented its place as an excessively dry and distressingly inert little drama.

*1/2 out of ****