Slow Burn (2005)

This week we kick off the last month of the A-to-Z Part Deux challenge with the letter “W”. For the letter “W” we have Wendy Lanning (Visual Effects Producer). And the movie that Wendy worked on we’re reviewing today…Slow Burn (2005).

Title: Slow Burn

Director: Wayne Beach

Released: September 13, 2005 (Toronto International Film Festival), released in the United States on April 13, 2007

Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes

Available to stream on: Prime Video and Tubi

Ford Cole (Ray Liotta) is a District Attorney who has his eyes on becoming the next mayor. He feels that as long as he is able to bring down local gang leader Danny Luden, the mayor’s office is all but his. What Ford doesn’t know is that the next twenty-four hours could bring his carefully crafted political life collapsing like a house of cards. While giving an interview to a reporter by the name of Ty Trippin (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Ford receives a call informing him that he should get down to the police station as soon as possible.

Nora Timmer (Jolene Blalock) is Ford’s Assistant District Attorney and has confessed to murdering a man. She claims that Isaac Duperde (Mekhi Phifer) raped her at which point she shot him in the head in self-defense. Ford begins looking into one Isaac Duperde. Who was he? Was he connected to Danny?

Unfortunately for Ford, he gets another curveball thrown his way in the form of Luther Pinks (James Todd Smith aka LL Cool J). Luther walks into the police station and says he will only speak with Ford Cole. Ford agrees and Luther immediately starts poking holes in Nora’s story. He claims that Isaac and Nora had known each other for months and that Isaac confessed he was obsessed with her. Ford tries to call Luther’s bluff however when Luther mentions a tattoo on Nora, Ford knows he’s telling the truth? How? Well, Ford and Nora happen to be an item themselves.

So, what is Ford’s next move? Does he believe his ADA and romantic partner? Or is it possible that Luther, who just waltzed in off the streets, knows more than he’s leading on?

One thing is for certain, tonight, Ford Cole should believe no one.

One of the things I enjoy the most about doing this blog is when I stumble upon a movie that catches me by surprise. Slow Burn (2005) is the latest example of this.

Going into this one, I knew nothing of it other than Ray Liotta was in it. When it starts and I see it is going to be Ray Liotta trying to bring down a gangster, I’m in. I am admittedly a sucker for any movie that has Liotta in that type of role. In fact, everyone here, regardless of their amount of screentime, gave solid performances. Both Ray Liotta and LL Cool J commanded your attention whenever they appeared.

The story drew me in and kept me hooked and on my toes all throughout. However, had this been a limited run series rather than a movie, I may have enjoyed it even more. I needed just a bit more in order to be truly invested in each character and to have a better understanding of their motives.

Now, that being said, I still had fun with Slow Burn (2005). I’d much rather have a movie that gets in and out in just over an hour and a half and leaves you wanting more than one that runs over two hours and leaves you wanting much less.

If you haven’t seen it, consider this your recommendation to seek out and settle in for Slow Burn (2005).

So, if you’ve seen Slow Burn (2005), what did you think of it?

Let me hear your thoughts in the comments below or on social media!

See what else I’ve been watching on Letterboxd.

Want to know what I’ll be reviewing next Sunday for the letter “X”? Keep an eye on Bluesky and Threads/Instagram this Wednesday!