Burning Man Review

Burning Man Review

Cast: Matthew Goode, Rachel Griffiths, Bojana Novakovic, Kerry Fox, Essie Davis
Director: Jonathan Teplitzky
Genre: Drama
Rated: MA
Running Time: 110 minutes

Synopsis: Writer/director Jonathan Teplitzky's reckless, sexy, irreverent and ultimately tear-jerkingly beautiful story of a father and son's journey back to happiness. Matthew Goode (A Single Man, Match Point, Leap Year, Watchmen) plays Tom, an English chef with a chic restaurant on Bondi Beach. He's a man behaving badly, surrounded by women trying in their own ways to help him put his life back together. Those women include Bojana Novakovic (Edge of Darkness), Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters), Essie Davis (Girl With A Pearl Earring), Kerry Fox (Bright Star) and Kate Beahan (Chopper).

Verdict: Wow! I honestly cannot think of another word to describe Burning Man.

With a number of confronting scenes Burning Man is everything you don't expect; audiences may be quick to judge Tom (Matthew Goode) but ultimately Tom is a grieving man who is looking for a distraction and audiences will feel compassionately for his trouble character as the storyline is established.

Burning Man showcases Tom cursing, making phone calls or cooking at his trendy Bondi restaurant (or all three at once) during the beginning of the film; although we later learn that Tom wasn't always a major jerk and didn't always treat his son, staff, friends, customers and family harshly. After the upsettling exposure, Tom is showcased as the gentle, loving, talented chef, husband and father he used to be.

The structure of the film is not chronological, with numerous flashbacks it is only towards the end of Burning Man that many questions and scenes are answered.

Don't forget the tissues - Burning Man hits all the emotions and is a must see for all adult audiences.
Rating: *****
Brooke Hunter

Release Date: 17th of November, 2011