kimjohnsonnow Other reviewers have said it....tedious and annoying. Trying to be too clever by half, this movie jumps through the time zones almost frame by frame. The unifying factor being that the main character is a caricature of a male chef, you know the Gordon Ramsey type who are arrogant and think that the world worships them because they can cook seafood. With complete disregard, the main character has total disrespect for everyone in the story including himself. Wow, if this is what someone thinks grief is like then it's pretty extreme. The rest of us mix in being normal human beings with grief and continue our lives learning that life is for living. This being the gift that those who pass away leave us. I thought that it was portraying an ice addict such was the extreme behavior shown. Sorry guys trying a bit too hard...where is the subtle portrayal that Australian movies do best

The_late_Buddy_Ryan We didn't stick around to find out what was eating Jessica Chastain in "Eleanor Rigby," but in "Burning Man," the big reveal isn't delayed too long, and the opening barrage of short, very intense, non-sequential flashbacks—a car crash, a dreary sex scene, a rugby game colliding with a kid's birthday cake—really got our attention. These memories belong to Tom Keaton (Matthew Goode), a tightly wrapped Sydney chef who's blocked out the unbearable crucial fact of his life, so it takes awhile to figure out what's really going on. Even before that though, we were riveted. Despite its tricky, timeshifting structure, the film's perfectly paced, and after the storyline levels out, "Burning Man" gets to the heart of things in an affecting, unsentimental way. Great cast — good work by MG and lovely Bojana Novakovic (Frank Gallagher's latest paramour on "Shameless"!); too bad Rachel Griffiths was only available for a day's shooting, or so it seems. This one reminded me of another Aussie film, "Adore," which also could have come off as gimmicky and contrived but had real dramatic impact. "Burning Man" provides a fine emotional workout, though there are a couple of rowdy comic scenes as well—including an haute cuisine version of the french toast bit from "Road Trip." Great soundtrack ("ethereal singing," the CC calls it) by Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance fame.

SnoopyStyle Tom Keaton (Matthew Goode) is struggling with a mess of sexual encounters with various women after the death of his wife Sarah. He is estranged from his son Oscar. He's a top chef in a chic restaurant.The acting is good here. The reason for his dysfunction is compelling. However, many movies nowadays think they need the added tension of shredding the time line. They think they need to confuse the viewers so they have the added tension of trying to figure out the storyline. Instead, they should have the confidence in the story to allow it to unfold. Sure flashbacks may be preferable to a strictly linear time line but there's no need to put the film thru a blender.

madx666 The emotions, the characters, and the story line is perfect. It really hit the spot. "Burning Man" the sound tracks gives the right fleeing at the right time. And the most impotent part in this movie is the camera scenes. They are changing to give us some thing to think.First it look very complicated crap, but when the movie rolling it shows the pattern which life can have. It also give us an idea about the man's inside view. even the characters which selected by the director is very perfect to the story. "Tom" character in the movie is looks like very angry and selfish man but when the film running it show us how soft he is and why he turns.. The actor gives all the expectations he can to elaborate the movie character.The end part (last scene)Tom's kid asking about the lunch and the answer "lets make a pizza" was the most outstanding part of this movie.(The story part is also perfect but I was look for those cinematography parts only) Rating 7/10 perfectMadx666