The Coen brothers follow up their Oscar winning film, No Country for Old Men, with a dark, oddball, comedy that some will call a smart move and others a waste of talent. And if any film had an onslaught of talent, it is this one. Unfortunately, more times than not, that spells disaster. I wanted this film to be exceptional. I wanted something that would have the lineage and staying power of a Fargo, Raising Arizona or The Big Labowski. The problem I had is that Burn After Reading is random, thin plotted writing that works only because of the expert acting of the cast.
The story is simple enough. Two average citizens (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt) find what the think are important government spy files. When they try to blackmail the owner of the files (John Malkovich) it sets off a chain of mistaken identity and hilarious misunderstandings. And there you have it. That is pretty much it. There really are no good guys or bad guys. They all have their faults. So you don’t get to choose sides but instead just hang on for the ride. I kept hoping for at least some depth of plot and the lack of left me slightly disappointed.
Many people will love this movie just because it is The Coen Brothers and there is the need to feel like you have to rave about it or you are out of touch and unhip. I will let you off the hook now and allow you to see this with an open mind and decide for yourself. But feel free to hate it. It is ok if you do. Granted it is not terrible film and I found myself laughing loudly at times. As I mentioned, the acting alone is worth the price of admission and here is why that makes this film more appealing than it would be normally.
George Clooney. What would a Coen comedy be without Clooney? This time around he plays a sex crazed ladies man with comparison to his roles in Intolerable Cruelty and Oh Brother. He shows again why there is more to him than just looking good in a suit. John Malkovich. His ability to exude anger and fury makes for volatile intensity. Malkovich has always been one of the best character actors and goes full tilt in this one. Tilda Swinton. No one has the neurotic nature of Tilda. She can breathe ice crystals when need be and has a killing stare that is matched by no other. Throw her in a triangle with Johns brooding and Clooney’s charm and she shines as always.
Then there is Brad Pitt. If you have seen any of the previews you know that this is one of the most peculiar roles Pitt has ever done. He plays a gym trainer who is amped about everything. A good natured guy with very little brains. I wish I could say that he was hilarious but most of the time I felt I was watching Brad try to be funny. Instead of developing his character, he was always Brad Pitt. While everyone else was acting, Pitt was just being Pitt being a goofball. And I didn’t meld for me. Sorry little buddy.
Burn After Reading is rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence. It is a dark comedy at times and though you laugh a lot, it isn’t feel good by any means. Bottom line, I think this movie will appeal to fans of the Coen’s and those who will suffer through drivel and plot holes in order to witness amazingly talented actors. If you only care about story and content, you might as well burn this now instead of later. It is a little over 90 minutes and I have to wonder if it would have been better given a few more minutes of depth. I only give it 3 out of 5 gliding chairs and that is solely for the performance of the cast. Nothing more.
“Matt is a member of the North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and hosts a daily online talk show. For additional reviews, interview clips and great DVD giveaways, visit the website www.mungleshow.com”
Review copyright 2008 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.
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Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackback“Because it is a comedy, the Coens’ new film … is something of a palate cleanser for the brothers after the rigors of the Academy Award-winning No Country for Old Men,” Kenneth Turan writes in the Los Angeles Times. “But because it’s a Coen brothers film before it’s anything else, this is about as dark and nihilistic as comedies are allowed to get before the laughter dies bitterly on your lips.”
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http://www.walrusfilms.com/movies/burn-after-reading.html
Let’s be honest…this movie blows! Disjoint plot, shallow and stupid characters, and “dark” humor that bordered on just plain vile. A near total waste of both great acting talent and the viewer’s time.
Yeah, I know it’s not hip to rip ANY production from the venerated Coen Brothers; for some reason they seem to automatically get critical acclaim for any and every effort they offer up. Fargo, Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, No Country, and on and on. All artistically brilliant, right? Really? Anybody remember Ladykillers?
Do I seem a bit harsh? Maybe it’s because I expected more from these two and their great cast. Maybe because 8 years ago they came out with one of my very favorite movies of all time, O Brother where Art Thou? What a sweet movie; lovable quirky characters, memorable dialog,terrific “old timey” music that tied into a nostalgic era, wonderful cinematography, and a plot that was catchy enough even if it were NOT ingeniously interwoven into Homer’s Oddysey.
So, you see, the Coens hit their high-water mark with me (just like a valley being flooded for hydroelectic dam), with O Brother. Their latest entry, however, “mixaforically speaking” lies at the bottom of a “pretty durn deep lake.”
Totally agree about Ladykillers. Hated that film with a passion.
Brad Pitt can be so funny, as long as he’s not taking himself too seriously… in any case, it’s about time someone made good use of his habitually spastic arm movements
Yes, well…He wasn’t spastically moving ANYTHING in the closet scene, nor at the end of The Assasination of Jesse James. By the way, I thought Pitt was excellent in both those segments. Very realistic portrayals of motionless dead guys.
I believe it is a shallow inocous film. I dont agree with the characterization of Pitt being a goofball. I think he was hilarious, and probably the only reason to see the movie, due to the uncharacteristic Pitt we are used to. He demonstrates he is a great actor, with a versatility not seen in any other movie of his.
i thought it was crap, seen it 2night and wouldnt see it again if i was paid 2. there was no plot and the film just ended at a rndom point there was only about 8 people in the cinema a random old guy was laughing his head off at bits waht i didnt get maybe just not 4 me or any of my freinds
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