An ambitious art critic, James Figueras, is approached by a wealthy art collector, Joseph Cassidy, with a proposition. Cassidy has the reclusive artist Jerome Debney living on his estate: if Figueras can procure for him, by whatever means, a Debney painting he can get an interview with Debney, something no one has done for 50 years, and Cassidy will help Figueras's career. Getting the painting becomes an obsession for Figueras.... (Full plot summary below)
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An ambitious art critic, James Figueras, is approached by a wealthy art collector, Joseph Cassidy, with a proposition. Cassidy has the reclusive artist Jerome Debney living on his estate: if Figueras can procure for him, by whatever means, a Debney painting he can get an interview with Debney, something no one has done for 50 years, and Cassidy will help Figueras's career. Getting the painting becomes an obsession for Figueras.
Leave your thoughts about The Burnt Orange Heresy.
| Slant MagazineChuck BowenThe film allows that we are complicit in privilege for our fascination and envy. |
| The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloIn short, this is fundamentally a movie of surface pleasures, placing gorgeous actors in an equally stunning location and letting them parry with sharp words and lithe, angular bodies. |
| The PlaylistLuke HicksThe Burnt Orange Heresy stunts as a thriller, but it’s most intriguing when it gives way to soulful questioning of the career of criticism, a profession subjective enough to dodge checks and balances and neglect the significance of honesty, if it so chooses. |
| Film ThreatAlan NgThe thriller aspect of the film acts as the payoff to audiences for having to sit through extended discussions. While it’s not the most clever or brilliant thriller, it’s exciting nonetheless and will have you on the edge of your seat to the end. |
| Original-CinThom ErnstThe Burnt Orange Heresy is more mysterious than mystery. Still, there are reveals best kept secret until the moment when they are intended to be dropped. Capotondi’s film requires patience, which may be problematic for those who don’t find discussions about art, truth, and the symbolic use of flies scintillating. |
| Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperThis is no piece of pretentious fluff. It’s a grim and nasty but wickedly entertaining bit of business, seasoned with sharp little plot turns before an admittedly ludicrous but dramatically satisfying twist-on-top-of-a-twist ending. |
| The Hollywood ReporterBoyd van HoeijThe screenplay and the actors ooze charm as well as intelligence early on but the second half is more like a sleek thriller, something that's efficient but less jocular and surprising. |
| Washington PostPat PaduaA mostly smart and sexy crime drama, even if it loses steam by the time the ridiculous ending rolls around. |
| New York Magazine (Vulture)Alison WillmoreAs a thriller, The Burnt Orange Heresy is entirely underwhelming, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth watching. |
| Arizona RepublicWeldon B. JohnsonIn the final minutes, the characters make several choices that defy logic, leaving the audience to wonder what happened to the savvy operators presented in the early parts of the film. |
