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Review #448 of 365
Movie Review of Slow Burn (2007) [R] 93 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $11.50
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 16 April 2007
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: unscheduled
Directed by: Wayne Beach
Screenplay by: Wayne Beach (The Art of War)
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Ray Liotta (Wild Hogs) • LL Cool J (Last Holiday) • Mekhi Phifer ("ER") • Jolene Blalock ("Enterprise") • Guy Torry (Runaway Jury) • Taye Diggs ("Day Break") • Chiwetel Ejiofor (Children of Men) • Bruce McGill (The Lookout)
Soundtrack: Download now from 
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Word of advice number one is do not see Slow Burn if you are the least bit sleep deprived, not because the movie will put you to sleep but because you'll need every brain cell active to follow what's going on in this 'a bit too clever' film starring Ray Liotta as current DA and mayoral candidate, Ford Cole, trying to put the clamp down on the roughest gang leader in the city. The film starts out with the dead body of Isaac Duperde (Mekhi Phifer) in the bed of Asst. DA Nora Timmer (Jolene Blalock).
Which, as one might imagine, is not going to look good for the mayoral candidate. She assures him that they just met, she returned home to find him in her house after feeling stalked by him, and when he attempted to assault her sexually, she retaliated with deadly force. Naturally, he's bound to believe her, until a mysterious man named Luther Pinks (LL Cool J) shows up at his office with a decidedly different account of the events that pre-dated the killing. He claims, to the contrary, that Isaac and Nora were a long-term relationship of more than 4 months. He claims that she came on to Isaac and not the other way around.
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Which, as one might imagine, is not going to look good for the mayoral candidate. She assures him that they just met, she returned home to find him in her house after feeling stalked by him, and when he attempted to assault her sexually, she retaliated with deadly force. Naturally, he's bound to believe her, until a mysterious man named Luther Pinks (LL Cool J) shows up at his office with a decidedly different account of the events that pre-dated the killing. He claims, to the contrary, that Isaac and Nora were a long-term relationship of more than 4 months. He claims that she came on to Isaac and not the other way around.
"…diabolically clever…the film is good with some excellent performances "
He claims, most stunningly of all, that Ms. Timmer was attempting to lure Isaac into giving up the identity of the mysterious gang leader as a birthday present for Ford Cole with whom, she also, has been having an affair. So, there is the beginning of a diabolically clever set up. To make matters worse for Ford, nosy journalist Ty Trippin (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is at the police station attempting to milk information from loose lips for a big story.
Well, that's as much about the plot that I dare give away. There is a great deal of cleverness to the plot. Credit writer/director Wayne Beach in his feature film debut as director for conceiving the engaging storyline about inner city corruption to the highest degree. The title is apt though for both positive and slightly negative reasons. The film is a bit like a smoldering fire. It takes a while to get roaring with some pops and flops along the way. Truly, on must pay very close attention to follow a couple of the twists and turns tossed in.
Things that worked well for the film were former "Enterprise" Vulcan officer Jolene Blalock's cavalier and smug portrayal of Nora Timmer. She masters the role which requires her to embrace some complex diversity issues with panache. LL Cool J was just plain cool. Chiwetel Ejiofor now much more well known for his roles in Kinky Boots and Children of Men, proved he can shed his British English accent and get down with the local gang riff raff. Mekhi Phifer lights the screen with his brilliant eyes and deep soul. Which basically leaves the uninspiring role of Ford Cole filled adequately by Ray Liotta. Arguably he was just miscast out of the gate. Mr. Liotta has had a long history of just not quite being the right fit for his roles. This will be the third this year (Wild Hogs and Smokin' Aces). Honestly, I don't think he's really fit a character since he played Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams—what a film! I don't mean to pick on him too much. It's just that his on-screen presence really isn't a powerful one. It's difficult to picture a guy who looks a lot like a creepy copy salesman being the tough as nails DA who's nearly single-handedly brought down organized crime in the city. This role was particularly tough on him for he had to spend most of the film staring in disbelief—not a good look for him. In any case, disappointingly, Mr. Liotta is the weak link in the cast, and his role is too big and important for this not to have had a negative impact on the film.
Overall, the film is good with some excellent performances. It's been sitting on the shelf a long time. With a minimal advertising campaign and nearly no buzz, it's sure to go quickly to DVD/Download land. The good thing about DVD land for this film is that one can skip back a chapter to watch again for clues and the cleverness of some of these performances. A second viewing will surely yield some nice surprises.
Well, that's as much about the plot that I dare give away. There is a great deal of cleverness to the plot. Credit writer/director Wayne Beach in his feature film debut as director for conceiving the engaging storyline about inner city corruption to the highest degree. The title is apt though for both positive and slightly negative reasons. The film is a bit like a smoldering fire. It takes a while to get roaring with some pops and flops along the way. Truly, on must pay very close attention to follow a couple of the twists and turns tossed in.
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Things that worked well for the film were former "Enterprise" Vulcan officer Jolene Blalock's cavalier and smug portrayal of Nora Timmer. She masters the role which requires her to embrace some complex diversity issues with panache. LL Cool J was just plain cool. Chiwetel Ejiofor now much more well known for his roles in Kinky Boots and Children of Men, proved he can shed his British English accent and get down with the local gang riff raff. Mekhi Phifer lights the screen with his brilliant eyes and deep soul. Which basically leaves the uninspiring role of Ford Cole filled adequately by Ray Liotta. Arguably he was just miscast out of the gate. Mr. Liotta has had a long history of just not quite being the right fit for his roles. This will be the third this year (Wild Hogs and Smokin' Aces). Honestly, I don't think he's really fit a character since he played Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams—what a film! I don't mean to pick on him too much. It's just that his on-screen presence really isn't a powerful one. It's difficult to picture a guy who looks a lot like a creepy copy salesman being the tough as nails DA who's nearly single-handedly brought down organized crime in the city. This role was particularly tough on him for he had to spend most of the film staring in disbelief—not a good look for him. In any case, disappointingly, Mr. Liotta is the weak link in the cast, and his role is too big and important for this not to have had a negative impact on the film.
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Overall, the film is good with some excellent performances. It's been sitting on the shelf a long time. With a minimal advertising campaign and nearly no buzz, it's sure to go quickly to DVD/Download land. The good thing about DVD land for this film is that one can skip back a chapter to watch again for clues and the cleverness of some of these performances. A second viewing will surely yield some nice surprises.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Slow Burn (2007)
Cast Members
Ray Liotta
• LL Cool J • Mekhi PhiferJolene Blalock
• Guy Torry • Taye DiggsChiwetel Ejiofor
• Bruce McGillWriter / Director
Wayne Beach
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Slow burn (2007) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Do not see Slow Burn if you are the least bit sleep deprived, not because the movie will put you to sleep but because you'll need every brain cell active to follow what's going on in this 'a bit too clever' film starring Ray Liotta as current DA and mayoral candidate, Ford Cole, trying to put the clamp down on the roughest gang leader in the city. The film starts out with the dead body of Isaac Duperde (Mekhi Phifer) in the bed of Asst. DA Nora Timmer (Jolene Blalock), which does not look good for the mayoral candidate. She claims self-defense, but a mysterious Luther Pinks (LL Cool J) shows up at Ford's office with a contrary tale claiming Isaac was murdered. There is the beginning of a diabolically clever set up. Unfortunately, a lack-luster performance from Liotta and a slowish plot drag the film down.
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