Review of The Burning Plain (2008) by Anna H — 28 Nov 2010

"The Burning Plain" starts in New Mexico where a trailer explodes killing Nick(Joaquim de Almeida) and Gina(Kim Basinger) who were using it as a love shack, sending shockwaves through the otherwise tight knit town that was unaware of their affair.

In Portland, Or, Sylvia(Charlize Theron) runs a successful upscale restaurant with her friend Laura(Robin Tunney). Sylvia will not date customers but will date the help, namely John(John Corbett, in danger of being typecast as the nice guy who is interested only in unstable women), a chef, while putting on a show for the public in downtown Portland which is probably not that out of the ordinary there. It is ironic because she hides her feelings well, preferring to burn herself with cigarettes rather than any genuine emotions. And that's when Carlos(Jose Maria Yazpik) enters her life.

Contrary to what you may have heard, "The Burning Plain" is not told in non-sequential fashion. Instead, it uses its different settings to tell a compelling story about the need for forgiveness with the usual strong work from Charlize Theron. That's not to say the movie is without its share of flaws, however. Admittedly, it will not take a genius to figure how all the parts fit together well ahead of the movie's weak resolution. And it is not believable that only one person in a small town would know of an affair. Love may be able to conquer all but it is not more powerful than gossip. Plus, it is kind of reductive to show New Mexico as symbolizing emotional warmth while Portland's raininess is supposed to symbolize the dreariness of the characters' lives. On the other hand, the cinematography is excellent.