Slow Burn (2000)

The Worst Film Ever

the audience applauded

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

WARNING: SPOILERS (THOUGH I SAW THE MOVIE AND STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED)They had all the ingredients for a good film, they just didn't cook it long enough. Acting was so-so, though James Spader was good imitating Dustin Hoffman in "Midnight Cowboy". The dialog itself was good, but the overall story was incomprehensible. Some additional plot holes that need to be mentioned: Frank must have known where the diamonds were if he buried Catalina, so why the heck would he let Trina spend her entire life in a vain search for the diamonds? If Trina saw the diamonds in her Mom's backpack, why would she spend her life in a vain search for the diamonds? Do we seriously believe a 12 year old would shoot her mother because she saw someone fondler her breasts? Why did Trina put the diamonds back in the box? Other than McGuyver, who the heck has all the materials for a forge in the back of their vehicle? Why did Marcus chain himself to Duster (to give him privacy to finish the key?) Why did Trina chain herself to Frank? What happened to Trina at the end (are we to believe that she wasn't able to shoot the chain with the gun to free herself)? Why did Duster just turn around after finding the bird?Seriously, it's as if three different people wrote this movie and none of them talked to each other after reading the outline. The only redeeming feature of this film is that the plot holes were so annoying that you spend a good deal of time after the moving just trying to figure out what you just saw.

The reason I rented this film was because it featured James Spader. However, after watching it I would say Mr. Brolins performance deserves far more kudos. Overall, the film was so-so. The plot was a tad shaky and not layered out very well. Minnie Driver did a good job of looking haggard and perplexed but her role did not require much else. Spader was fine but his accent drove me mad. It was a funky cross between a man with a frog in his throat and a fellow from New Jersey. Despite the lackluster pace of the film I enjoyed every minute that featured Duster(Brolin). He played his character with depth and was convincing. I really liked that he had a special protection feeling for the bird, that was sweet. Overall though, this film was pretty shoddy and could have been a way better piece than it was.

This ending of this movie is so off that it ruined the whole thing. You go through the whole thing hoping that greed will not win, and that thought is exhausting. Minnie Driver is good, as she is in most of her roles, and her American accent is great. And, she is starring with her fiance, Josh Brolin, which is always interesting to watch. But the story just did not ring true for me, and that makes it much more difficult for me to enjoy. The story line did not make it believable, even with suspension of disbelief. Watch it at your own risk. Feel good movie, it is not.

Don't waste your time on this, defurball your cat, watch some nice paint dry or read a book..Three stars for Josh Brolin's Lennie Small knockoff (Of Mice And Men) and that's it for the acting...James Spader is almost always fine; and here he's wasted doing Ratso Rizzo in the sand. Really a waste.