Something of a poor man's version of "The Player" -- make that a very poor man -- "Burning Down the House" is a shoddy movie-industry satire notable only for its sprawling "whatever became of?" cast.
Directed by Philippe Mora ("Howling II" and "Howling III") during the last millennium and based on a Michael Cole Dinelli stage play, this Method Film Festival selection concerns the desperate measures taken by a down-and-out filmmaker (John Savage) who burns down his Hollywood Hills home to collect the insurance money that would bankroll his big comeback picture.
The only problem is his dirty little secret turns out to be common knowledge to a growing list of individuals who are looking for a piece of the action.
While the film itself is rather shrill and crudely executed, there's something admittedly intriguing about an acting ensemble that includes Rene Auberjonois, William Atherton, Orson Bean, C. Thomas Howell, James Wilder, David Keith, Arye Gross and Mick Fleetwood -- all of whom have done much better work in the past and will hopefully do so again in the not-too-distant future.
Directed by Philippe Mora ("Howling II" and "Howling III") during the last millennium and based on a Michael Cole Dinelli stage play, this Method Film Festival selection concerns the desperate measures taken by a down-and-out filmmaker (John Savage) who burns down his Hollywood Hills home to collect the insurance money that would bankroll his big comeback picture.
The only problem is his dirty little secret turns out to be common knowledge to a growing list of individuals who are looking for a piece of the action.
While the film itself is rather shrill and crudely executed, there's something admittedly intriguing about an acting ensemble that includes Rene Auberjonois, William Atherton, Orson Bean, C. Thomas Howell, James Wilder, David Keith, Arye Gross and Mick Fleetwood -- all of whom have done much better work in the past and will hopefully do so again in the not-too-distant future.
- 4/23/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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