Burn After Reading: a Movie Review
With Ethan and Joel Coen, You Never Know Where the Film is Headed
Oct 6, 2008
The Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel, wrote and directed this movie starring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt.
The basic plot of Burn After Reading involves a CD-ROM belonging to a CIA agent getting misplaced at a fitness center. Gym employees find the disc and attempt to profit from their find, with unexpected and highly improbable results.
George Clooney and Brad Pitt do a remarkable job as comedic actors. Burn After Reading allows Pitt to stretch his acting chops in a way that his fans have not seen before. Clooney, known off screen for his joking nature, also doesn't disappoint. Tilda Swinton reprises her role as the White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia, although this time her ice queen character is a little more multi-faceted and relies on fewer special effects.
The actors in this film interact with an obvious ease around each other. It is no wonder: several of the actors are re-paired with those they have worked with on previous productions. Notably, Ethan and Joel Coen work again with their Fargo costar, Frances McDormand. Tilda Swinton and George Clooney also get a chance to work together again after both appearing in the 2007 film, Michael Clayton.
Burn After Reading is Not for Kids
This movie is rated R--and for good reason. There is a great deal of swearing in Burn After Reading as well as a pretty explicit scene involving a sex toy. There is also some pretty shocking violence. Get a babysitter and leave the children at home for this one.
Verdict
The plot develops like an episode of the Simpsons: the characters start off on one misadventure only to end up entangled in another, unforeseen mess. The ending is totally unexpected. Audience members seemed to be scratching their heads after the showing, as if trying to backtrack and connect the dots as to how the plot evolved to its conclusion.
Confused is what moviegoers might feel while exiting the film and pondering what it is that they just watched; but during the film, there were many laughs from the audience (of the viewing of which this review is based). It is a comedy. It is supposed to make the audience laugh. On this front, the movie succeeded.
As is common with films from the Coen brothers, you never know where the film is headed. It is not about the destination; it is about the ride.
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