Review: ‘Burn After Reading’

Zac:

The Coen Bros. latest is an exercise in pitch black humor and absurdity that, after a bit of adjustment, is a solid comedy with some great work by the actors involved.

Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) is a recently demoted CIA agent who decides quit and writes his memoirs instead. His wife, Katie (Tilda Swinton), is cheating on him with Harry (George Clooney), who is a Treasury agent that trolls the internet dating world for quick sex between, “getting a run in.” In Katie’s preparation to file for divorce, she makes a copy of Osborne’s files on his computer that in one way or another ends up in the hands of Hardbodies employees Linda (Frances McDormand) and Chad (Brad Pitt). Linda is looking for love, and hopes to increase her chances with some desired plastic surgery, while Chad is a dimwitted trainer who sees a potential for some money from this, “secret CIA shit,” that the two have stumbled upon. A large tangled web of intrigue (?) begins and a whole lot of people get themselves into a mess of trouble over the loss of this CD of Osborne’s.

The film’s level of absurdity never fails and one thing after the other just keeps happening and you are left just shaking your head and smiling at all that is going on. The film takes a bit of getting used to though, as it is shot, scored and cut very seriously and you’re left feeling serious but want to laugh at the silliness that is unfolding in this odd amalgamation. The movie is shot like a spy thriller, the music is like something out of an espionage film, but the plot is just bizarre and inane; it takes a bit of getting used to. Luckily, once you settle in, the films style never really jars you again, and you are left to enjoy this odd and peculiar picture.

The actors all do a good job in the film here as well, and that makes the farce work, though no one competes with their best work they have done here. Clooney plays a silly idiot along the lines of previous Coen collaborations and plays it to a T. He is kind of charming, kind of a prick, kind of creep, and he blends it all into a likable guy. Tilda Swinton and John Malkovich get the least amount of screen time of the leads but they make the most of their time. Swinton is a cold hearted bitch and works well against Malkovich’s borderline insane and angry Osborne Cox. Malkovich also does a good job of capturing the slow crawl to insanity a man can go throw during crisis in his life. France McDormand is good here as well as the scheming, willing to do anything woman, as long as she gets her plastic surgery and is the reason this mess gets put into motion. Brad Pitt is the real stand out here though as the air-headed Chad and he will have you rolling every time he pops up on screen. He carries himself so well as the upbeat and positive Chad who thinks he can persevere through just about everything. Also worth mentioning is Richard Jenkins who is excellent as the owner of Hardbodies as well as JK Simmons in a couple of brief scenes as a CIA higher up.

In the end, Burn After Reading is a successful dark comedy that will only grow on subsequent viewings. The twisting plot will keep you guessing, the absurdity will keep you smiling, and the actors all do solid work. The adjustment to get what the Coen Bros. are doing style wise might be a bit of a road block for some, but just remember going in, everyone is kind of an idiot here and the plot is purposefully absurd. Another winner by the Coen’s but it will take some time to figure out where it falls in line among the rest of their pictures.

[rating:4/5]

Melissa:

Let me start out by saying that I was pretty excited to have my first movie review for the blog to be a Coen Brothers film. With such golden nuggets of cinematic treasure as “Raising Arizona”, “The Big Lebowski”, and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, I was bracing myself for a ride on the laugh train! This is why I was shocked by my indifference at the end of the film.

The movie starts off with Osborne Cox (John Malkovich), an extremely moody CIA agent who is let go from his job due to alcoholism and an obvious temper problem. He is existing in a loveless marriage with Katie (Tilda Swinton).

Now, the next part of the movie was as if they let a focus group from the Midwest rewrite the movie “Closer”. Katie is having an affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney), a treasury worker who is married as well but sleeping with numerous women from an Internet dating site. One of his conquests is a body image and love obsessed Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand), a character who lacks a serious amount of common sense, or maybe is just diluted and too blinded by her own self loathing.   The comic relief is Linda’s overly enthusiastic, quirky, fitness fixated friend (say that 5 times fast!) Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt). The two (Linda and Chad), having the combined IQ of a bag of hair, decide to blackmail Osborne Cox when they find a disc with what they think is top secret information. The characters all coincide in a tangled web of ignorance, paranoia, and self doubt.

Now don’t get me wrong. There were some pretty amusing parts to the movie. To me, the most enjoyable scenes were in the CIA offices with an Officer (David Rasche) who was explaining the situation involving  Osborne, the blackmail, and the intertwining characters to his Superior (J.K. Simmons), only to be themselves completely baffled! Their exchange was witty and fresh, leaving me wanting more from them.

I was also impressed with the primal needs and emotions that the characters expressed such as revenge, love, perfection, and paranoia.

The character of Katie was more of a plot necessity than an addition to humor. Her bland character development made her scenes more of a bore to me.

Overall, I feel like some parts of the movie dragged or lacked a bit. I normally enjoy movies with a realistic satire but this one just didn’t click with me. The humor was either too subtle or too obvious with no real cinematic flow.

The best comparison that sums this up for me is comparing it to watching “Everybody Loves Raymond”. Parts are amusing but the rest is just not that impressive.

[rating:3/5]

Travis:

Betrayal, adultery, paranoia, espionage, murder… these are the spicy ingredients that go into the Coen brother’s newest comedic concoction ‘Burn After Reading’. In many ways the film is like any number of other Coen brother films, a dark comedy with masterful dialogue and comedic timing, dwelling on odd characters and even odder situations. On the other hand, all of this craziness is played down a notch in this film compared to the more lavishly spectacular Coen fare, such as ‘The Big Lebowski’ or ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’

The story revolves around a handful of characters whose lives intertwine within a ridiculous set of circumstances when a less-than-brilliant personal trainer named Chad (Brad Pitt) happens upon a CD containing what he believes is top secret government documents. Chad confides this knowledge and his master plan for trading the CD for a “good samaratin” reward of cash to Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand), an aging female personal trainer and co-worker. Linda quickly takes to Chad’s plan, seeing it as a way to finance her desperate belief that she needs a series of cosmetic surgeries to remain viable as a personal trainer. They discover that the CD belongs to former CIA analyst and alcoholic potty-mouth Osborne Cox (John Malkovich). What ensues on the surface is a multi-faceted witless circus of misguided intent and unbelievably stupid people.

As the Coen brothers continue to churn out high-caliber films of incredible quality their status in “the Biz” continues to rise, bringing them higher notoriety and bigger stars. ‘Burn After Reading’ flaunts an amazing cast that also includes Tilda Swinton as Osborne’s cold heartless wife, George Clooney as a womanizing sex addict who’s obsessed with jogs and nice flooring, Richard Jenkins (Step Brothers) as Ted, the negative-minded gym manager who secretly desires Linda, J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Juno) as the completely confused CIA supervisor and David Rasche (Sledge Hammer!) as the CIA officer trying to make some kind of sense of the craziness going on around them. The performances are what make this film so enjoyable, nailing the dark pitch of a story that presents serious subject matter in a completely absurd light.

In some ways, ‘Burn After Reading’ is a parody of the intelligence community, but much like the Coen brothers’ award-winning ‘No Country For Old Men’, this film is all about seeing the world through the eyes of one central character… all the other characters are simply supporting roles in that character’s version of reality. For Linda, there is nothing more important than regaining her self-respect, based solely on her appearance. She’s an inherently “good” person, but doesn’t realize what her actions cost those around her. Ultimately, everything that occurs in the film is a result of Linda’s need for this “personal transformation” but will Linda acquire what she seeks… and at what cost?

‘Burn After Reading’ is certainly not the Coen brothers’ best film or their funniest, but it holds up to their growing list of highly successful films that are uniquely entertaining. I believe this will prove to be one of the most widely appealing and appreciated Coen brothers films, as it plays closest to the mainstream median without losing its Coen flair… that, and it also has a much more Hollywood-style ending that ties up the loose ends and doesn’t leave anyone guessing. I say it’s a good move, coming off the hype of a Best Picture Academy Award and drawing what will surely be record audiences for a Coen brothers film, if the line at the screening is any sign of what’s to come.

[rating:4/5]

Scott:

The Coen Brothers have been on a pretty good streak lately, making some of the best(and Oscar winning) movies of our generation. Lets just say that I had the highest expectations for this movie and I walked away just a tad bit disappointed. The early reviews that I read said that the movie was gut busting funny, but I didnt get that from the movie. Dont get me wrong, there were plenty of funny scenes in the movie, and parts that were hillarious but I never laughed until I cried.

Everyone in the movie as absolutely perfect and it has nothing to do with them, and the story was great so it had nothing to do with that either. I just feel like it was missing something, I just dont know what that “something” is.

It was hard to distinguish the main character in the movie, as is with most Coen Brothers movies but every actor that had a major role in the movie was brilliant. The characters needed no development, they were from the beginning everything you could possibly want/need. The Coen’s do a great job of confusing you, mixing up the story and spitting out pieces at a time for you, which isnt a bad thing.

The movie was worth seeing, but you might be a LITTLE disappointed like Melissa, and myself, and if you are..i am sorry.

[rating:3/5]

Ram Man:

What would you say to a movie that has espionage, adultery,  and multiple murders. Sounds good, huh. Then I will tell you that it is directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, Hollywood’s “Directing Dynamic Duo”. And the cherry on this cinematic sundae is that the film is a comedy!   Burn After Reading  sports a cast that reads like  an Oscar party guest list. Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney and Tilda Swinton (Micheal Clayton)  are teamed up again , John Malkovich and J.K. Simmons with a great supporting role as the director  of the CIA.

Osborne Cox (Malcovich) ,a CIA analyst who turns down a demotion  with the agency,  and after a curse filled tirade, quits his job. Looking for support from his wife Katie (Swinton) who’s only concern was that Osborne didn’t get the cheese for their party that evening. After a few days of  Cox laying around in a bathrobe trying to write the great American Novel, Katie sees the writing on the wall and secretly begins divorce proceedings against Osborne. Katie who has been having an affair with friend of the family Harry Pfarrer (Clooney), a   Federal Marshall who is also married and carrying on numerous extra-marital affairs unbeknownced to his wife Sandy or main fling, Katie. Harry is obsessed with sex  , so much so he constructs a masturbation machine in his basement as a gift for his wife.  Katie , on the advice of Harry and her shark of a lawyer, downloads all of the finance information from  Osborne’s accounts so to leave him with nothing.

A legal secretary accidentally drops the disk at the local gym one morning,  only to have a couple of dip-shits find it.  Ã‚  Linda Litzke (McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Pitt) are personal trainers  and beginner blackmailers  decide that the disk contains Government secrets and should bring in a huge payday for them. Litzke, who is fight the clock, sees the opportunity to use the blackmail cash for numerous plastic surgeries that she needs to knock 10 years and 40 pounds off her body. Linda and Chad, who don’t have enough intelligence to fill up a cup of Jamba Juice, trace the disk back to Osborne Cox. After a late night “Good Samaritan” call from Chad, a meeting is arranged so the exchange can take place. Cox informs Chad that it is blackmail and he isn’t going to pay him. Then he Punches Chad in the nose and drives away. Linda seeing her botox roll down the street does her best imitation of road rage and smashes Osborne’s car in a hit and run by idiot. So what do they do now…forget it…not with Linda needing 10k for Liposuction..the bumbling idiots take it to the Russians. All of this lunacy is being monitored by the CIA (Simmons) who can’t make heads or tails out of it.

This the point where all of the players begin to mingle. In an attempt to retrieve more “intel” from Osborne’s computer, Chad goes missing, Osborne chases down a burglar with a hatchet, Harry flees the country Harry’s wife Sandy secretly divorces him to be with her lover, Linda is refused by the Russians and the CIA is left to clean the whole thing up. WOW!!!

I wondered how the Coen’s would follow up last years smash hit “No Country for Old Men”…  only with screwball comedy in the likes  of Fargo, The Big Lebowski  and Raising Arizona. They bring the  oxi-moronic phrase of “government intelligence”  to the big screen in the most entertaining way. Burn also features an actual ending, unlike the normal Coen  ending that leaves the crowd scratching their heads. With all the great comedies that came out this year..Tropic Thunder, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Smart  and Hancock..Burn After Reading   is firmly in my top  two for the year. This should be heard from during award season.

[rating:4.5/5]

Jeremy:

In 1996, Joel and Ethan Coen set a new standard in their careers with ‘Fargo’.   That film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards.   They followed it up two years late with the laugh-out-loud funny ‘The Big Lebowski’, and many debate which of the two is their best film to date.   In 2007, the two set yet another standard in their illustrious careers with ‘No Country for Old Men’.   It won them both of the Oscars they didn’t win for ‘Fargo’, and, yet again, people were debating whether or not they had finally seen the Coen Brothers’ best film.   Like ‘The Big Lebowski’ acting as the comedic palate cleanser to the grim and brooding ‘Fargo’, so too does ‘Burn After Reading’ serve as the comedy relief after the ‘No Country’ comedown.

Their films have always teetered on the edge of certain genres, particularly their comedies.   ‘Raising Arizona’ was their “kidnapping” movie.   ‘The Big Lebowski’ was their take on the “detective” film.   ‘Burn After Reading’ is their version of a spy thriller, but it falls alongside more dramatic fair like ‘Syriana’ and ‘Clear and Present Danger’ than the action of something like ‘The Bourne Identity’.   This is the CIA, not the NSA.

John Malkovich plays a cast out CIA agent who decides to write a novel about his time with the agency.   A computer disk holding all of his notes falls into the hands of a couple of less-than-genius fitness gym employees (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand).   The two hastily decide they are going to blackmail the agent to get the disk back.   When their initial attempt fails, they decide to go to the Russians.   Throw in the agent’s demanding wife (Tilda Swinton), her horn dog of a lover (George Clooney), and a couple of baffled CIA agents (Davide Rasche and JK Simmons) overseeing the whole thing, and you’ve got yourself a fine comedy.

‘Burn After Reading’ is more chuckle-inducing than laugh-out-loud funny.   This is by no means the Coen Brothers’ funniest film, but it’s still laudable on so many levels.

There was a certain style that befell the two’s films early in their career.   Everything leading up to 2001’s ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There’ had this quirky, unreal sense to it that let you know instantly it was a Coen Brothers’ film.   ‘Burn After Reading’ gets back to those older film.   Everything is here from the eccentricities of its characters to the quick-paced editing to the recognizable Carter Burwell score.   This is a Coen Brothers’ film through and through, so that, right there, makes it better than 80% of the unoriginal garbage that is out there.

The brothers have a way of taking their actors and wrapping the performances tightly around their script, and that is also seen here.   It’s amazing to realize that most of the cast of ‘Burn After Reading’ has never been in a Coen Brothers’ film before.

This is particularly evident with Malkovich and Pitt.   Malkovich seems to have been born to perform in a Coen Brothers’ film, and it’s something I hope we see again.   Pitt is just great.   He has no fear of mocking himself, and he seems to be having a tremendous time losing himself in his character’s bicycle shorts.

But there is something missing from ‘Burn After Reading’ that holds it back from being all-out hilarious.   It might be how violent the film ultimately gets.   It might just be that the Coen Brothers didn’t hone the film as much as they should have.   They wrote this screenplay concurrently with writing ‘No Country’, and some of that film’s grit and somberness may have spilled over.

I can’t help but think the film would have benefited from going back to Rasche and Simmons more often.   Simmons just sits behind a desk.   Rasche stands in front of him explaining the craziness of the whole situation.   The two seem totally mystified as to how the situation has gotten to the point that it has.   It is definitely the funniest parts of the film, and it should have been used a few more times.   The whole film could have even been a flashback from this scene with cuts back to Simmon’s reactions to certain events.

As it stands, ‘Burn After Reading’ is an all right comedy.   It’s good but not great.   It is not the Coen Brothers’ worst film, but it’s definitely not their best, either.   Even as such, the fact that is is undeniably a Coen Brothers’ film makes it far better than many other films out there.

[rating:3.5/5]