Burn After Reading – DVD Movie Review

From the Creators of The Big Lebowski and No Country for Old Men

Oct 28, 2009 Roberta Goli

A clever and funny comedy about two clueless gym employees trying to blackmail an ex CIA analyst.

Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malkovitch, Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand star in this comedy about two hapless employees of a fitness center who stumble upon a disk belonging to a former member of the CIA and attempt to blackmail the disks owner.

Burn After Reading Overview

CIA analyst Osbourne Cox (Malkovitch) is fired suddenly from his position due to his drinking problem. Outraged, Cox decides to write a tell-all book about the inner workings of the CIA. When the disk falls into the hands of Chad (Pitt) a not-so-bright employee of the Hard Bodies fitness center, he decides to blackmail Cox with the help of fellow employee, Linda Litzke (McDormand).

Linda is obsessed with aging and needs money for the numerous plastic surgery operations she wants to get, so agrees to help Chad in blackmailing Cox. The pair couldn’t be more out of their depth when it comes to blackmail and it leads them to trouble. Meanwhile, Cox’s wife Katie (Swinton) is having and affair with federal marshall Harry (Clooney).

Burn After Reading Review

Written by Joel and Ethan Coen, best known for Fargo, The Big Lebowski and No Country for Old Men, Burn After Reading delivers lots of laughs and clever dialogue. Almost everything in this movie is clumsy or hopeless with Pitt and Clooney being masters of portraying complete idiots.

McDormand (Friends with Money) is hilarious as Linda Litzke, obsessed with plastic surgery and oblivious to the fact that her boss has a thing for her. Malkovitch is excellent as the angry drunk and Swinton (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) is extremely horrible as his cheating wife.

Packed with humorous mishaps a clever story and a few surprises, this movie will be another hit with Coen fans and will keep viewers entertained and laughing all the way until the end. A clever and funny flick.

Starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malkovitch, Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand
Written by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
Directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
Running Time 92 minutes
Comedy
Rated MA 15+
DVD Special Features include Finding the Burn: The making of burn After Reading and Welcome Back George: This comedy piece features Mr Clooney as he returns for his third collaboration with Ethan and Joel, and DC Insiders Run Amuck: An all-star cast creates the world of Washington DC, insiders all trying to get ahead or find true love.

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Burn After Reading Cover	John Malkovitch in Burn After Reading	George Clooney in Burn After Reading
Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading	Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading