Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Sameeha Pugh It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

drjlo I did not even realize Mariana was Jennifer Lawrence until half way through The Burning Plain. She was younger with different hair color in this movie compared to her her most famous role in the Hunger Games franchise. After all said and done, after watching The Burning Plain, the only truly lasting impression I have left is the hauntingly disturbing performance by Jennifer Lawrence when she was still in her teens. The movie itself generally was interesting in its use of time shifts and parallel story-telling, as well as the empathetic performance by Kim Basinger. *Spoiler warning again*There is a little too much of cookie-cutter resolution, e.g. Theron's predictable and unconvincing "shaping up" by the end. There is also just too much gap between the character played by Jennifer Lawrence and Theron; it doesn't convince as the same person. One could argue life has changed her, but the very core and essence of the person seem different. I am somewhat of a Theron fan especially with these unflattering movies she has been making, but I have become a bigger Lawrence fan after this movie, which is surprising since I thought I was impressed a lot by her turn in The Silver Linings Playbook. The Burning Plains shows off the potential of the actress, which can be seen to lead to wonderful performances like in Silver Linings.However, having also seen Hunger Games: Mockingjay, which is one of the worst films I have seen, I truly hope Lawrence and her people see the wisdom of letting her develop her true talents and express herself more before being cast into those types of movies. Her X-Men roles really do not help much here, either. Still, I would recommend people to watch Burning Plain, which "IS" a good movie, on a much higher plane than films like Mockingjay and X- Men anyway. I just wish its ending could have been more consonant with the ominous tone of the movie and that in the future the director does not feel the need to tie up all loose ends.

David_Brown This is a film with three Oscar winners (Basinger, Theron, and Lawrence), and none of them are any good (both in character (particularly Lawrence who abandoned her baby of two days), nor in acting). I could watch Basinger in anything and like it (except "Cool World"), because I am a fan of hers, and there is nothing boring about her, but here she is essentially lame. The only one who is worth watching is Tessa La (Maria), the daughter of Lawrence who grows up to be Theron (who seems to sleep around why every guy she meet to the point of being a nymphomaniac). What is pretty pathetic, is she is 12 and is the closest thing to be an adult (and this is not a kids film). Spoilers ahead: At the end of the film, she is the one who left Mexico to come to the US, and find her mom, after her dad had a crop dusting accident, and reunited the family. I give it two stars only for her.. Otherwise, it would be a total waste.

Tim Kidner What lies beneath our external persona and how we carry our past is an often an untapped, intriguing and even dangerous place to explore - and to return to.So, as we see Charlize Theron, extremely unglamorous as she rises from yet another bed at another man's house, in Portland, Oregon, an air of sadness drifts over us. Yet, as debut director Guillermo Arriaga grapples with his own script - and he has written some corkers - Babel & 21 Grams - we are strangely hooked.We want to see this woman and her life and how it connects with the rest of the film. As guarded restaurateur, Sylvia (Theron) we see that she's preoccupied and soon, she meets up with a figure from the past. From here - and inter-cut with the present, we visit her past life and how childhood events have shaped her. I won't reveal too much about this, except Kim Bassinger plays her mother, who has a torrid affair with Hispanic farmer Nick (Joaquim de Almeida - whom many will recognise but not be able to name!) near their New Mexico home.This is typical independent cinema; often slow, raw and intense and generally, as attractive as real life is - not very. Acting is always compelling and almost uncomfortably real but just because a film ticks all the 'pure' boxes, it doesn't necessarily make for a good film, which needs to be entertaining AND interesting. The latter, generally, yes, the former, not often and somehow the length and story don't make for a film that's totally satisfying. The good cinematography helps, though, as does the sparse and atmospheric music.Many will find the general pessimism of the film a little overbearing and this isn't Arriaga's best script; apparently the movie didn't do well at the box office and maybe the director will go on to produce a better film or write more great scripts for someone else to direct.

jameswilliams784 This is a strange movie. If your a fan of the Babel or other work by Guillermo Arriaga, then you will be satisfied with this movie. If your a fan of Charlise Theron then you be satisfied with this movie. If your looking for a gripping drama about how a tragedy affects the lives of different people you will be satisfied. However, if you looking for a good intense drama, this movie will leave you unsatisfied unless you can get over the very disjointed beginning and follow the movie to the end. I think you have to be familiar with Arriaga's films to really like this movie. He weaves stories together without any thought of a time line and it can make a movie seem very strange. However, if you will follow this movie to the end, it is a good movie. The Acting especially by Theron is outstanding. Give this movie a chance and its enjoyable. Not a masterpiece, but enjoyable.