Film & TV

Film Review: Burning Man

Rating: MA 15+

Release date: 17 November 2011

Bondi Chef, Tom (Matthew Goode) in his reckless pursuit of women and hedonistic pleasures leaves his eight year old son, Oscar (Jack Heanly) to assume the “fathering” role. His appalling behaviour is somehow tolerated by those around him the reasons of which aren’t revealed until later. Burning Man is a clever but somewhat alienating film. The audience needs to hang in through the first confusing 40 minutes. It starts with Tom’s car accident and then as his life flashes before him, it is presented to us in this disjointed, out of sequence fashion. We are left experiencing the same disorientation as Tom who is trying to make sense of his world and the events that have shaped it. So as he pieces them together he starts becoming whole again with the help of friends, family and strangers.

Matthew Goode (A Single Man) is able to pull off his characters unpleasantness however the sympathetic balance is missing. Writer/director John Teplitzky’s (Better than Sex) quasi autobiographical piece is written mainly from the point of view of the badly behaving Tom. This however is partly to the film’s detriment as it is a bit too self-absorbed and the objectification of women may be problematic for some viewers. It is offset with a few moments of humour which helps give it some light and shade. At the heart of this is an incredible love story which you can’t help but be moved by. The screen just sizzles between Tom and his wife Sarah (Bojana Novakovic) and her character breathes life into the story. Novakovic is stunning to watch and she delivers the very essence and spirit of her part. The quality Australian supporting cast includes Esse Davis, Rachel Griffiths and Kerry Fox who all shine in their limited roles.

3.5/5 stars

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