Burn After ReadingDirected by: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Cast: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton Time: 1 hr 35 mins Rating: R
Plot: CIA analyst Osborne Cox (Malkovich) is let go from his job and two gym employees (McDormand and Pitt) stumble upon a disk containing his memoirs. The two attempt to sell it to anyone who will listen.
Who’s It For? It's goofball, oddity humor that reminds me of a mix between Raising Arizona and Blood Simple. The film keeps you uneasy with some violence and it's not a straight forward comedy.
Expectations: I was pumped, it's a great cast and a chance to see the Coen's attack comedy with killing after the very strong No Country for Old Men.
SCORECARD (1-10)
Actors: George Clooney as Harry Pfarrer: He's had the full beard (Syriana), he's been in good shape (any Ocean's) but not at the same time. And just like everything else he does, it works for him. It's amazing how similar his comedic reactions are compared with O Brother, Where Art Thou?. He's got a great variety of quirks (his obsession with wood floors and desire for exercise give you enough) even though you never feel like you understand the guy. Score: 7
John Malkovich as Osborne Cox: The f-bomb works well for him. And yes, sometimes it can fail for an actor (see Will Ferrell in Step Brothers). It's great to see Malkovich as an upset character again, the last quality one was a certain Russian gambler. Score: 8
Frances McDormand as Linda Litzke: I hate to say it, because I love McDormand's work, but she frustrates me here. Her whole motivation is that she wants tons of plastic surgery ... and a man. I never felt sorry or rooted for her, plus being oblivious to Ted's (Richard Jenkins) affections, even for someone with her intelligence, is just too basic of a side plot for a film this smart. Score: 5
Brad Pitt as Chad Feldheimer: I want whatever he's having. Chad is the life of this film, at least for the first half. It's great to see Pitt play goofy. When's he's bopping along to whatever is on his iPod, the movie is clicking along perfectly. Score: 9
Talking: Big words are constantly mispronounced and it doesn't feel like an attack on the stupid, mainly because Linda and Chad are in WAY over their head. The best talking may actually involve none of the big names. David Rasche and J.K. Simmons are CIA operatives observing the oddity of it all from afar. Score: 7
Sights & Sounds: It takes a really long time to warm up to this film. The score is that of an intense thriller with no room for laughs. Along with that, there wasn't much story or comedy until Pitt showed up and then it finally took form. No clue what Chad was listening to, but Clooney's Harry sings the Four Seasons "My Eyes Adored You" in the pivitol scene in the film. Score: 6
PLOT SPOILERS
Best Scene: Malkovich plus Pitt is perfection. In fact, I wish the film could have focused on just the two of them. It would have seemed like the opposite cat and mouse game that Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin shared. When Osborne and Chad meet in Osborne's car, with Chad trying to look tough after riding his bike to a blackmail, Burn After Reading is at it's funniest.
Ending: The absolute perfect and necessary ending. Some will say it reminds them of the abrupt ending of No Country for Old Men, but in the end, this film is just a bunch of odd characters thrown together that need to be laughed at and that's exactly what we get.
Questions: Was it fun to see Swinton and Clooney together after Michael Clayton? I think I needed a nod to that great film. Coming Up Daisy is a nice fake film with Claire Daines and Dermot Mulroney, but has anyone found a fake trailer online? It needs to happen.
Rewatchability: Now that I have felt the film out, I feel like another viewing could be worth it, especially just watching the inner workings of each actor. Who knows, maybe McDormand would grow on me the second time around.
OVERALL Burn After Reading is about infidelity ... blackmail ... exercise ... and being in over your head, I think. It's a tough call, but the key is that every actor embraces their character, especially Pitt. He steals the show and after a killer twist I was scared the movie would derail. But then everyone else starts to become fun and more importantly, funny. Just like the Coen's No Country for Old Men, I don't think Burn After Reading has an important message to tell, but the craftsmanship which goes into these films can't be denied. Score: 7 out of 10