** out of ****
Rated R
(for strong language, sexual content, nudity, and violence)
Released: November 9, 2018 limited; expands through December & January
Runtime: 148 minutes
Directed by: Lee Chang-dong
Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Jong-seo, Steven Yeun, Kim Soo-Kyung

My review of Burning, for The Tulsa Voice. The latest film from South Korean director Lee Chang-dong has received global acclaim as one of the year’s best.

From me, not so much.

This psychological thriller — involving at “Great Gatsby”-like trio — burns too slowly for its own good.

A review excerpt:

“Manipulation and jealousy swirl around a puzzling love triangle in this would-be mystery that amounts to a dark, plodding cautionary tale with ambitions of striking a salient Millennial allegory…There’s a taught 90-minute nail-biting head-trip somewhere inside this two-and-a-half hour grind, but that padding obfuscates the film’s plot, tone, suspense, and ideas.”

To read my full review, click here.