BURN AFTER READINGMain Players: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, et al.
Calling the shots: Ethan & Joel Coen
Running time: 96mins
What's it about? Recently discharged CIA man Osbourne Cox (Malkovich) begins to write his memoirs only to have it fall into the hands of two simple-minded gym employees (McDormand & Pitt) who starts a chain of events that ends up in one big mess. Welcome to our pointless world of infidelity, superficiality and stupidity.
What did I think? It’s vintage Coen’s. After (finally) winning an Oscar for “No Country For Old Men”, the Coens’ were on top of the world. It seemed they could do no wrong. And they simply haven’t put a foot wrong here giving us the same style of film, just a hell of a lot funnier.
There also lies its biggest weakness. If you don’t enjoy the Coens’ style of films then you’re probably not going to like this one. It is like an acquired taste after all. But if you do, this is a joy to watch. With precision directing and a very quirky, a very witty script which is performed by a fantastic cast of actors, it just makes this movie work. Deliberate in its pace, to allow for the story telling to take place, and laugh out loud funny, in certain memorable scenes. The CIA big heads and his “invention” come to mind.
The case I mentioned earlier is just terrific. Clooney, in his nth time working with the Coens, is great as always, as is McDormand, Jenkins and Swinton. But the standouts here are clearly: John Malkovich, who has his insane/angry face on and you just can’t help but laugh at his rage, and a scene stealing turn from Brad Pitt, who has never been funnier, more likeable than this.
The story is developed so well that you can’t help but sympathise with each of the characters (in one way or another) no matter how dumb they are in their actions.
You’ll really need to go into this movie with an open mind or at least an understanding of what the Coen Brothers’ films are like to appreciate this. Otherwise you might find yourself walking out of this film not knowing what the hell just hit you.
3.5 out of 5.
There also lies its biggest weakness. If you don’t enjoy the Coens’ style of films then you’re probably not going to like this one. It is like an acquired taste after all. But if you do, this is a joy to watch. With precision directing and a very quirky, a very witty script which is performed by a fantastic cast of actors, it just makes this movie work. Deliberate in its pace, to allow for the story telling to take place, and laugh out loud funny, in certain memorable scenes. The CIA big heads and his “invention” come to mind.
The case I mentioned earlier is just terrific. Clooney, in his nth time working with the Coens, is great as always, as is McDormand, Jenkins and Swinton. But the standouts here are clearly: John Malkovich, who has his insane/angry face on and you just can’t help but laugh at his rage, and a scene stealing turn from Brad Pitt, who has never been funnier, more likeable than this.
The story is developed so well that you can’t help but sympathise with each of the characters (in one way or another) no matter how dumb they are in their actions.
You’ll really need to go into this movie with an open mind or at least an understanding of what the Coen Brothers’ films are like to appreciate this. Otherwise you might find yourself walking out of this film not knowing what the hell just hit you.
3.5 out of 5.
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