Watch The Burning Plain For Free

Why so much hype?

Pretty Good

People are voting emotionally.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

"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.

What lies beneath our external persona and how we carry our past is an often an untapped, intriguing and even dangerous place to explore - and to return to.So, as we see Charlize Theron, extremely unglamorous as she rises from yet another bed at another man's house, in Portland, Oregon, an air of sadness drifts over us. Yet, as debut director Guillermo Arriaga grapples with his own script - and he has written some corkers - Babel & 21 Grams - we are strangely hooked.We want to see this woman and her life and how it connects with the rest of the film. As guarded restaurateur, Sylvia (Theron) we see that she's preoccupied and soon, she meets up with a figure from the past. From here - and inter-cut with the present, we visit her past life and how childhood events have shaped her. I won't reveal too much about this, except Kim Bassinger plays her mother, who has a torrid affair with Hispanic farmer Nick (Joaquim de Almeida - whom many will recognise but not be able to name!) near their New Mexico home.This is typical independent cinema; often slow, raw and intense and generally, as attractive as real life is - not very. Acting is always compelling and almost uncomfortably real but just because a film ticks all the 'pure' boxes, it doesn't necessarily make for a good film, which needs to be entertaining AND interesting. The latter, generally, yes, the former, not often and somehow the length and story don't make for a film that's totally satisfying. The good cinematography helps, though, as does the sparse and atmospheric music.Many will find the general pessimism of the film a little overbearing and this isn't Arriaga's best script; apparently the movie didn't do well at the box office and maybe the director will go on to produce a better film or write more great scripts for someone else to direct.

There's great stuff in this film by Guillermo Arriaga, which also was behind Amores perros, 21 Grams and Babel, which is all good. This is also very interesting, but maybe Arriaga here goes a bit lost in his own storytelling? It's possible to love the excitement and dramatics of loose cannons, but there's maybe a couple to many out here.This film will be loved by many, others will be turned off by the edited storyline, the slow pace, the strange and often appalling behavior of otherwise neat people. This is also things which makes other interested. But this has been done better, without the bad behavior. It's real enough, the exaggerations makes it less believable. There's simply not that many insane people in a small place like this, doing the wrong and right things the way they are here.Good acting, but still some annoying ways of behavior. Great scenery though bleak use of nature, a lingering excitement though not fulfillment, great ideas though purely executed. Though could have been amazing, like f.e. The Dead Girl, but is just a good try. A nice try in a everyday environment, but somehow it's difficult in accepting the way people act when in different situations. It all gets a bit to desperate.It's not difficult to follow, though Arriaga has made his best in trying to confuse and lose the audience on the way. But I feel that the film is lost in a try to make this film more important, serious and real than necessary, and therefore loses some of its way. Love and life is difficult, and often messy, but the filmmaking hasn't got to enhance that. Kudos for good idea, but next time make someone see it over!

Who in the world could picture either Charlize Theron or Kim Bassinger being involved with the scruffy-looking men they are cast opposite in this horrible film? John Corbett as a cook? It's laughable. This is the worst example of casting I've ever seen. Whatever possessed these acclaimed actors and actresses to get involved in this contrived soap opera? Don't waste your time on this tripe. It's just awful to watch it. The plot and situations are stilted and forced. Kim Bassinger making love to a grizzled old guy in a single-wide squalid trailer? It's just unbelievable to think that this film was actually produced and released.