Slow Burn (2005)

A district attorney is involved in a 24-hour showdown with a gang leader and is, at the same time, being manipulated by an attractive assistant district attorney and a cryptic stranger.

Director:

Wayne Beach

Writers:

Wayne Beach (screenplay), Wayne Beach (story)

Stars:

Ray Liotta, Jolene Blalock, LL Cool J

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ray Liotta	...	Ford Cole
LL Cool J	...	Luther Pinks (as James Todd Smith)
Mekhi Phifer	...	Isaac Duperde
Jolene Blalock	...	Nora Timmer
Guy Torry	...	Chet Price
Taye Diggs	...	Jeffrey Sykes
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Ty Trippin
Bruce McGill	...	Godfrey
Frank Schorpion	...	Maybank
Donny Falsetti	...	Delucca
Barbara Alexander	...	Pratt
Joe Grifasi	...	Desk Sgt. Drown
Richard Jutras	...	Leland Neff
Arthur Holden	...	Felix Lang
Fisher Stevens	...	Alan Turlock

Storyline

District attorney Ford Cole is running for mayor, promising to capture the city's elusive crime boss, Danny Ludin. On the night of a gas link in the inner city, his interview with a national reporter is interrupted by word that his best prosecutor, Nora Timmer, who's also his lover, has killed a man she claims was assaulting her. A few minutes later, a man shows up at Cole's office claiming it was murder, implicating Nora in complicated schemes and crimes. Cole wants a few hours to get to the bottom of a mess that quickly includes land deals, shell corporations, and political corruption. Who's setting up whom?

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | topless female nudity | peeping | cardboard cutout | envelope of money | 

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Taglines:

The truth is just a trick of light.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 2003.

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Quotes

Luther Pinks: She stood there smelling like a tangerine, ripe and ready to be peeled.

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Connections

Featured in Slow Burn: Fire in the Streets (2007)

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Soundtracks

Beauty
Written by Unknown
Performed by Wax Poetic

User Reviews

What a mess...

I rented this movie because of the actors involved - Ray Liotta, LL Cool J, Taye Diggs, Mekhi Phifer and the great Bruce McGill. However, the movie basically bored and confused me simultaneously. To put it simply, it's just too messy. The movie touches on some interesting subjects and has some potential - but the end result is, well, quite a mess.

Slow Burn seems to be quite inspired by "The Usual Suspects" - which is by no means a bad thing. But it all just gets too convoluted. I lost track of the tricks the movie tried to pull to surprise the audience toward the end. It seemed pretty forced as did all the flashbacks throughout the film. I will, however, give the movie credit for "hiding" the bad guy really well - I didn't guess who it was, despite being a big movie buff. The actors all do their jobs just fine, though I think LL Cool J was somewhat miscast.

All in all I would not recommend this movie. I guess there is a reason it was held back for 2 years ;-)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Slow Burn

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$15,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$778,123, 15 April 2007

Gross USA:

$1,237,615

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,797,256

Company Credits

Production Co:

GreeneStreet Films, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Bonnie Timmermann Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1