<div><p>LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - In a move that adds a wrinkle to the traditional film-distribution model, DirecTV will debut "The Burning Plain," starring Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger, as a video-on-demand (VOD) offering nearly a month before the film's theatrical release.</p><p>The satellite network said Wednesday it will launch the Guillermo Arriaga-directed drama August 21 as a DirecTV Cinema offering in HD and standard definition.</p><p>The film, unveiled almost a year ago at the Venice International Film Festival, won't hit theaters until September 18 through Magnolia Pictures, 2929's distribution arm. It then will play simultaneously on DirecTV at reduced prices.</p><p>The film depicts two parallel stories running side by side: Theron plays a bed-hopping woman on the run from something in her past; Basinger plays an ill-fated married mother of four.</p><p>In reviewing the film at Venice, The Hollywood Reporter described it as "an ambitious, visually handsome production which fails to ignite."</p><p>(Editing by DGoodman at Reuters)</p><p>(please visit our entertainment blog via www.reuters.com or on http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=56229085&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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