Film Review: The Burnt Orange Hersey
©The Burnt Orange Hersey Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi (2020)
By Belle McIntyre.
This stylish art world neo-noir erotic thriller, which stars Claes Bang playing a similar role to his character in The Square (2017), directed by Ruben Östlund, is a fully engaging tale of cynicism, greed and avarice playing out against a background of entitled luxury. James Figuera (Bang), a formerly important art critic who has slipped from grace due to some shady business in his past, is reduced to performative lectures to American tourists in Milan. Suavely handsome, James is definitely chic bait, so, when he hooks up with Berenice Hollis (Elisabeth Debicki) after one of his lectures, the steamy sex which follows is initially treated as a one-night stand. However, their casual post-coital banter reveals them to be equally matched mentally as well as physically. Berenice, a long-limbed, fashionably slender platinum blond, looks every inch the art world denizen in spite of the fact that she is actually a small town girl fleeing from a boring life as a schoolteacher in Duluth. She has embraced her new identity as a glamorous adventuress with convincing aplomb.
When James invites her to accompany him on a weekend visit to the uber-rich art collector, Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger) at his estate on Lake Como, she does not hesitate. Jagger perfectly inhabits the role of the charming, manipulative, amoral master of his universe. He makes James a Mephistophelian offer which would radically revive his waning career. He cunningly reveals that he is thoroughly aware of the unsavory details of James’s past and implies that he would not hesitate to use the information against him. The assignment involves an interview with the famously reclusive artist Jerome Debney, whom Cassidy supports in a studio on his beautiful estate. Debney (Donald Sutherland) has not shown any work for decades since all of his work was destroyed in a fire. Cassidy believes that Debney has a huge stash in the locked studio. All James has to do is to win his trust during the interview process and figure out how to steal a painting for Cassidy.
©The Burnt Orange Hersey Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi (2020)
©The Burnt Orange Hersey Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi (2020)
Donald Sutherland’s Debney is a cagey old codger who sees through the conniving, pill-popping Figuera and plays him like a violin with vague philosophical and meaningless art musings. As the writer becomes increasingly impatient and desperate, he hatches a terrible plan which rapidly escalates into arson and murder. The lovely Berenice, who is the only character without ulterior motives and dares to call out James for his deceitful behavior, becomes a victim of her own naiveté. The final scene between Cassidy and Figuera, which includes a cryptic message from beyond the grave from Debney, leaves it up in the air about who knows what about whom. But Cassidy looks like the big winner who was always holding all of the cards.
The performances are all superb. Bang and Debicki are perfectly matched in bed and out. But the oldsters carry the day. Sutherland’s artist as éminence grise, with a mane of white hair and knowing manner, is more than equaled by the craggy-faced Jagger, who is mesmerizing to watch as his wicked delight at the exercise of his power is revealed in his sly smiles and knowing glances. And the gorgeousness of Lake Como is the icing on the cake. It is perfect escapism.
©The Burnt Orange Hersey Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi (2020)
©The Burnt Orange Hersey Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi (2020)
You can watch this film on Amazon Prime.
