The Burnt Orange Heresy
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGiuseppe Capotondi
Screenplay byScott Smith
Based onThe Burnt Orange Heresy
by Charles Willeford
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDavid Ungaro
Edited byGuido Notari
Music byCraig Armstrong
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • September 7, 2019 (2019-09-07) (Venice)
  • March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06) (United States)
Running time
98 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Italy
LanguageEnglish
Box office$711,691[1][2]

The Burnt Orange Heresy is a 2019 crime thriller film directed by Giuseppe Capotondi and with a screenplay by Scott Smith. The film is based on the book of the same name by Charles Willeford and stars Claes Bang, Elizabeth Debicki, Mick Jagger, and Donald Sutherland.

The Burnt Orange Heresy was selected as the closing film at the 76th Venice International Film Festival and was released on March 6, 2020, by Sony Pictures Classics.

Synopsis

Art critic James Figueras is enlisted by a wealthy art dealer to steal a painting from reclusive painter Jerome Debney.[3]

Cast

Production

In February 2018, Elizabeth Debicki and Christopher Walken were cast in the film adaptation of Charles Willeford's book The Burnt Orange Heresy, to play Berenice Hollis and artist Jerome Debney, respectively.[4] In April 2018, Claes Bang joined the film to play the lead role of James Figueras, a fiercely ambitious art critic and thief.[5] In early September 2018, Mick Jagger was cast to play Joseph Cassidy, an art dealer.[6] In late September 2018, Donald Sutherland was cast in the film, replacing Walken, to play an enigmatic painter who becomes the target of an art-world heist.[7]

Principal photography on the film began late September 2018 at Lake Como, Italy.[7]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on September 7, 2019.[8] Shortly after, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film.[9] It was released on March 6, 2020.[10] Following the closure of theaters a week later due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sony Pictures Classics opted to hold the film for when theaters re-open instead of putting the film on digital platforms.[11] It was re-released on August 7, 2020.[3]

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 66% approval rating based on 119 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Burnt Orange Heresy has a certain stylish charm, even if -- much like the art world it depicts -- it'll strike some viewers as pretentious."[12] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 57 out of 100, based on reviews from 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13]

The Boston Herald notes that the fraudulent artist adds the image of a fly to each of his paintings, "a metaphor for sin and evil"; the image recurs throughout "this dark fable".[14]

References

  1. ^ "The Burnt Orange Heresy (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "The Burnt Orange Heresy (2020)". The Numbers. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 16, 2020). "Sony Pictures Classics Sets August Release For 'The Burnt Orange Heresy'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Ritman, Alex (February 15, 2018). "Christopher Walken, Elizabeth Debicki Join Neo-Noir Thriller 'Burnt Orange Heresy' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  5. ^ Clarke, Stewart (April 24, 2018). "Claes Bang Joins Christopher Walken, Elizabeth Debicki in 'The Burnt Orange Heresy'". Variety. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  6. ^ McNary, Dave (September 6, 2018). "Mick Jagger Joins Heist Thriller 'Burnt Orange Heresy'". Variety. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Anderson, Ariston (September 27, 2018). "Donald Sutherland Joins 'Burnt Orange Heresy' Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  8. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (22 July 2019). "'The Burnt Orange Heresy,' With Mick Jagger and Donald Sutherland, to Close Venice". Variety. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  9. ^ Lang, Brent (September 16, 2019). "Toronto: Sony Pictures Classics Buys 'The Burnt Orange Heresy' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "The Burnt Orange Hersey". Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  11. ^ Thompson, Anne (March 27, 2020). "Let Other Studios Race to VOD; Sony Pictures Classics Believes It's Theaters or Nothing". IndieWire. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Burnt Orange Heresy (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  13. ^ "The Burnt Orange Hersey Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  14. ^ Verniere, James (7 August 2020). "'Burnt Orange' a deliciously nasty shade of noir". Boston Herald. Retrieved 17 October 2021. But he adds a tiny fly image to each painting, a metaphor for sin and evil. For this, his masters send him to the gas chamber. You can be sure flies will figure prominently in the rest of this dark fable.

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