Burn (1969) DVD Reviews

Starring	Marlon Brando, Sal Marquez, Renato Salvatori
Director	Gillo Pontecorvo
Genres	Drama

Critics' reviews of Burn
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Even at the height of his stardom, Marlon Brando was prepared to take chances by accepting challenging roles. In this attack on colonial manipulation — a period swashbuckler with attitude — he plays a cynical British secret agent who ignites a Caribbean island revolution against the ruling Portuguese, who are using slave labour on a sugar-cane plantation. It's clumsily handled at times by Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo, who made the remarkable documentary-style epic The Battle of Algiers, but it still has scenes of enormous visual power. Brando is, as they used to say, magnificent, and also a lot slimmer than he is today!
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Burn
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Burn - difficult film

Like other Pontecorvo films, Burn has the feel almost of a documentary at moments, even though set in the 1840s. The narrative is broken and laconic, with an even surlier Marlon Brando than ever taking a stern and unattractive lead. For realism and information about a

period in Caribbean colonial history (the film reflects events of the times) Burn is fascinating and the film does grip, but sometimes feels a bit unearthly and distant from emotion.
- - A customer from London, England
  - Posted 18 Mar 2005 09:32
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Slow Burn

Pontecorvo had made his name with his masterpiece, 'Battle of Algiers' two years earlier and Brando was looking to do someting with more radical political impact then Hollywood could offer him in the mid-sixties. He was to be disappointed with this film, as indeed are audiences. There is an uneven progress to the narrative which suggests funding problems or delays in production. There is a clear political argument of anti-colonialism traceable throughout the film but it never ignites into drama and remains didactic and dull. Brando does a reprise of his Fletcher Christian voice from 'Mutiny on the Bounty' and poses and primps himself as a would-be revolutionary dandy. I'm not sure which I want to end first - capitalist imperialism or this film.

The one highlight is the Ennio Morricone score.
- - A customer from Leyland
  - Posted 23 Jan 2007 13:44
a great political mirror to our lives today

a bit out dated with those poor dubbed actors, but don't let it put you off, as this is a wonderful piece of film that reflects on our own current political issues. So sharp that it hurts. If only we would learn our lessons from history in order to make this world better...
- - A customer from London, UK
  - Posted 19 Oct 2005 18:23
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Burn
View all
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Burn - difficult film

Like other Pontecorvo films, Burn has the feel almost of a documentary at moments, even though set in the 1840s. The narrative is broken and laconic, with an even surlier Marlon Brando than ever taking a stern and unattractive lead. For realism and information about a

period in Caribbean colonial history (the film reflects events of the times) Burn is fascinating and the film does grip, but sometimes feels a bit unearthly and distant from emotion.
- - A customer from London, England
  - Posted 18 Mar 2005 09:32
a film revelant to today times

The reason why I rented this film was because I read marlon brando's autobiography.

This film was made during the latter part of his career,he described the torrid time he

had with the director how they nearly killed each other,he even walked out of the film

when this got bad,because he was under contract he had to return.

It was filmed near the equator where the temperatures were unbearable,the director was a very supertisous man and always a thick overcoat in these searing temperatures,

marlon brando remarked this was the best ever film he made ,that's why I wanted to see

it.

On the whole it reminded me of spaghetti western,on how to start a revolution.
- - pepi from London
  - Posted 03 Jul 2008 13:53

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Burn - difficult film

Like other Pontecorvo films, Burn has the feel almost of a documentary at moments, even though set in the 1840s. The narrative is broken and laconic, with an even surlier Marlon Brando than ever taking a stern and unattractive lead. For realism and information about a

period in Caribbean colonial history (the film reflects events of the times) Burn is fascinating and the film does grip, but sometimes feels a bit unearthly and distant from emotion.
- - A customer from London, England
  - Posted 18 Mar 2005 09:32
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Slow Burn

Pontecorvo had made his name with his masterpiece, 'Battle of Algiers' two years earlier and Brando was looking to do someting with more radical political impact then Hollywood could offer him in the mid-sixties. He was to be disappointed with this film, as indeed are audiences. There is an uneven progress to the narrative which suggests funding problems or delays in production. There is a clear political argument of anti-colonialism traceable throughout the film but it never ignites into drama and remains didactic and dull. Brando does a reprise of his Fletcher Christian voice from 'Mutiny on the Bounty' and poses and primps himself as a would-be revolutionary dandy. I'm not sure which I want to end first - capitalist imperialism or this film.

The one highlight is the Ennio Morricone score.
- - A customer from Leyland
  - Posted 23 Jan 2007 13:44
a great political mirror to our lives today

a bit out dated with those poor dubbed actors, but don't let it put you off, as this is a wonderful piece of film that reflects on our own current political issues. So sharp that it hurts. If only we would learn our lessons from history in order to make this world better...
- - A customer from London, UK
  - Posted 19 Oct 2005 18:23
Good film

Interesting film, which builds as it goes along. Brando puts on a good performance. It is not so easy to understand what feelings really drive the character he plays in this, as it changes throughout the film.
- - Benny3 from London
  - Posted 07 Dec 2005 13:05
a film revelant to today times

The reason why I rented this film was because I read marlon brando's autobiography.

This film was made during the latter part of his career,he described the torrid time he

had with the director how they nearly killed each other,he even walked out of the film

when this got bad,because he was under contract he had to return.

It was filmed near the equator where the temperatures were unbearable,the director was a very supertisous man and always a thick overcoat in these searing temperatures,

marlon brando remarked this was the best ever film he made ,that's why I wanted to see

it.

On the whole it reminded me of spaghetti western,on how to start a revolution.
- - pepi from London
  - Posted 03 Jul 2008 13:53
Undeservedly neglected

Marlon Brando is superb and this film, though of its time in its reference to the Vietnam War, should be better known for its timeless reflections on terrorism and imperialism. Definitely worth seeing. The score is great as well.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 14 Dec 2008 22:17

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Critics' reviews
Even at the height of his stardom, Marlon Brando was prepared to take chances by accepting challenging roles. In this attack on colonial manipulation — a period swashbuckler with attitude — he plays a cynical British secret agent who ignites a Caribbean island revolution against the ruling Portuguese, who are using slave labour on a sugar-cane plantation. It's clumsily handled at times by Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo, who made the remarkable documentary-style epic The Battle of Algiers, but it still has scenes of enormous visual power. Brando is, as they used to say, magnificent, and also a lot slimmer than he is today!
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006