lor_ In cinema there are two genres that emphasize the morbid: pornography and horror films. Body parts are the chief subject matter and content of both, though it is only in recent decades that horror has moved from psychological to its current gross-out and shock status.Writer turned director Guillermo Arriaga takes the morbid route for a dramatic film "The Burning Plain", and merely displays a complete lack of feeling for cinema. Each scene is presented in the dull "one thing after another" representation of life that master directors like Hitchcock abhorred. Of course a great stylist like Ozu or Angelopoulos can get away with this approach, but Arriaga makes the experience dull indeed with his lack of technique.Lack of suspense is the other damning fault of the film. Hitchcock often stressed the need to impart enough information as a storyteller in order that the viewer could share in the anticipation and enjoyment of key revelations to come, whereas novice Arriaga falls into the rookie trap of surprise. This is akin to bad horror films, where even if there are suspenseful scenes of dread and fear, the payoff or climax of a sequence is relegated to gimmick - the equivalent of sneaking up and shouting "boo" at the viewer like clockwork every few reels. Modern audiences equate that scare tactic to the horror film being a good one. Here, we finally, tortuously, get the contrived threads of the director's inside-out plot tied up ever so neatly -meant as a thrill for the mind, but a massive groaner for me. Better leave things enigmatic, but this is a man who has sold his soul to the Chaos Theory school of bad filmmaking.Parting shot: another Adult Cinema gimmick is talking the actresses into doing this or that sex act (anal, interracial and gang-bang currently being the marketable commodities), to ensure the box office success of the product. For Arriaga, we have the modern phony-baloney equivalent of preying on actresses who have fallen for that whole indie myth of "giving one's all just for art". So the superstar sex symbol icons like Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron, with young Jennifer Lawrence warming up in the bullpen to surpass them in future career, are cajoled into "naughty" bits they would balk at in a big-budget studio assignment, probably feeling insulted. But for this crappy project - give it your all, scars being the fetish of the day.

Leon Zap I like the fact as other reviewers have written that "Kim Basinger's acting is flat". Any more exciting than what she did will spoil the somber almost stoic tone of the film. I think normal people cheating on their family will just act how she did it.There is definitely a lot of skin here and sex scenes but it is really done to bring out emotion. Theron's Sylvia's apathy and guilt, Basinger's Gina's urgency and even more so Lawrence's Marianna's anger, guilt and true love.The time/space chop is really effective and I did not think was overdone. I did not know initially that is what filmed in New Mexico until I recognized the familiar mountains around Las Cruces and the New Mexico "swamp" cooler air conditioning units.Because of the constraints of the movie and budget, we are left with many questions about the back stories of the relationships with other characters.All the actors are really great and I have to agree about Ia. Very talented. As expected the big awards institution did not even consider this. Their loss.I have now more respect for Charlize Theron. She did carry more than half the film. It is a sad film but had a fulfilling resolution in the end.

Chrysanthepop Films about interlocked fragmented stories aren't anything new to writer and director Guillermo Arriaga. As director, 'The Burning Plain' is his first feature film and its quite apparent that he has poured his heart into it. Here too the film involves three stories that are told separately but linked by the first scene.However, the non-linearity of storytelling is initially confusing but once the tragic link is made apparent, the gut-wrenching conclusion (that explains the explosion shown in the first scene) hits the viewer hard. The setting is very simplistic but rich in atmosphere especially with the dark subtle undertones. The beautiful score contributes well.Arriaga has gathered an impressive ensemble of actors who deliver wonderfully understated performances. Charlize Theron portrays Sylvia with a subtle intensity. Kim Basinger is skillfully restrained and Jennifer Lawrence shows tremendous potential. John Corbett, Robin Tunney, José María Yazpik, Rachel Ticotin, Brett Cullen, Tessa Ia and Joaquin de Almeida provide great support.Despite the initial confusion, the narrative is strong. There are a few clichés that could have been avoided, such as the confession scene in the hospital, but these are very minor and don't effect the impact of the film. In the end, 'The Burning Plain' is a solid film.

barrys82 The Burning Plain, a romantic mystery about a woman on the edge who takes an emotional journey back to the defining moment of her life. Written and directed by Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel). It is a heart breaking, touching movie. It follows the formula of having a main story with various sub-stories that in the end their paths are crossed. The rhythm is a little slow, it continuously changes from story to story making it hard to follow and a little boring at some moments. The cast is good. Charliza Theron, Kim Basinger John Corbett, Robin Tunney, Jose Maria Yazpik, everyone delivering very convincing performances although some of them are a little overacted as well. In conclusion, If you've seen Babel or 21 Grams or Amores Perros, all of them written by Ariaga, then you know what to expect with The Burning Plain