Plot: What’s it about?
Somewhere in the sands of a blazing desert filled with danger, is a small metal box. This box has driven a few folks mad and those people left their lives in the desert, meeting death in their search for the box. So what’s so special about this metal box in the middle of a harsh desert? The answer to that question can be found many, many years ago, when a woman first ventured into the broiling heat with the box and died there, leaving the box to be buried by years of sand and erosion. The box wouldn’t be forgotten though, as inside is a fortune in stolen diamonds and that kind of content can make people risk their lives to recover it. Trina (Minnie Driver) isn’t the first female in her line to search for that box either, as her mother and grandmother also hunted through the dunes. But those women were unable to locate the diamonds and even perished in the sands, leaving the entire process to be hidden by the desert and winds. But Trina believes she can be the one to find the jewels and is willing to do whatever it takes. But her money and resources are almost gone and as such, this trek will be her last attempt to wrangle the diamonds. But she won’t be alone in the sands however, as two ex cons are also roaming the area. If any of them are to escape alive with or without the diamonds, they’ll have to trust each other and work together. But can that happen with a small fortune on the line?
I was drawn to this film by the cast and storyline, but I still my doubts about the movie, as I do with any direct to video thrillers. But I also held out hope that it would turn out good and as such, I ventured into the desert with Slow Burn. I have to say it wasn’t as good as I had hoped, but Slow Burn still delivers enough suspense and entertainment to warrant a look. The storyline is the real winner with this one and I think the originality shines, even though some problems do come into the light. But I wasn’t expecting perfection and this one is well written, much better than I expected in fact. The dialogue is good and seems to fit the characters well, but the actors lack the juice and energy they usually display. Minnie Driver is a favorite of mine, but she just doesn’t have her usual performance level here, perhaps due to the adverse conditions the film was made under. But she and costars James Spader and Josh Brolin still manage solid turns, which saves the film in the end. If you need a fresh thriller when you’re looking for a rental, then give Slow Burn a chance, it’s more than worth a look.
The reason I first noticed this film was because of the lead actor in it, Minnie Driver. While she isn’t the typical Hollywood starlet, Driver has immense talent and manages to handle complex characters with total ease. She can save a film all by herself and that’s something few female actors can boast. So I was looking forward to her work here, but in the end she just doesn’t have it this time around. Whether she was just disinterested or the rigors of shooting in the desert got to her, Driver is average here at best. But her average isn’t that bad in the end and as such, fans of hers will still want to give this one a spin. Other films with Driver include Grosse Pointe Blank, Circle Of Friends, Return To Me, Hard Rain, and Good Will Hunting. I was surprised with the work of James Spader (Critical Condition, 2 Days In The Valley) in this film, as I am usually not taken in by his performances. The supporting cast also includes Josh Brolin (It’s The Rage, Best Laid Plans), Stuart Wilson (No Escape, Enemy Of The State), Caprice Benedetti (Practical Magic, The Devil’s Advocate), and Jennifer Ann Evans. This film was directed by Chris Ford, who also helped write the screenplay along with Roger Soffer. If you don’t recognize them, they also worked together on the Shaquille O’Neal disaster Kazaam!
Video: How does it look?
Slow Burn is presented in a full frame transfer, which preserves the original aspect ratio of this film. This was released directly to home video and though a few scenes leave too much space at the top and bottom, I think this was framed to fill the whole screen. The color scheme of the desert looks natural, but some brighter shades are evident at times also. The hues never smear or bleed, while the flesh tones display normal, warm shades as well. I didn’t find any problems with the black levels, as the contrast seems well balanced and no detail gets lost in the darkness. This is about as good as a direct to video flick can look, which is all I can ask of this disc.
Audio: How does it sound?
I didn’t expect much from this 2.0 surround track, but it ended up being much more active than I thought. This film doesn’t need much powerful audio, but it does call for some subtle audio to build the atmosphere. The desert is full of just such types of sound and this mix captures them well, creating a tense and foreboding audio experience. I liked the jazz based soundtrack and this mix lets it strut its stuff well, though not quite as expansive as a full 5.1 surround could offer. The dialogue is no problem in the least, vocals sound sharp & clear and no volume troubles surface at all.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s trailer, production notes, and cast/crew biographies & filmographies.
