After stumbling out of the gate, the fall movie season gets back on track with the latest film from the acclaimed filmmakers, the Coen Brothers. In Burn After Reading (R) a cast of characters get involved with a CD containing confidential government information. The situation quickly spirals out-of-control. The strong cast includes George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and John Malkovich.
Ryan: Hot off the heals of their big Academy Award winning picture, No Country For Old Men, the Coen brothers change direction by producing something that they are known for-- a dark comedy. Somewhat in the vein of The Big Lebowski, Burn After Reading showcases a cast of eccentric characters doing ridiculous things. I’m not really sure if the movie is supposed to be saying something but I’m not sure if it really matters. Burn After Reading is an entertaining film with many laughs—or at least smirks.
Andy: Burn After Reading is certainly ridiculous, and I mean that in the best possible way. All of the main characters are ridiculous for in varying ways, and they proceed to entangle in one another’s lives in preposterous ways that we’ve come to expect from the Coen’s. The movie is not without substance, but it’s mostly about good actors getting to have a lot of fun. Fortunately for us, much of that fun translates to the audience.
Ryan: There’s no question that the stellar cast is one of the highlights of the movie. Clooney and McDormand are well familiar with how to make a Coen Brothers film work. It shouldn’t be too surprising that the addition of Pitt, Swinton and Malkovich enhance the shenanigans going on in the film. More specifically Pitt, playing an air-head gym employee, owns every scene that he is in. Seeing Malkovich yell and swear on screen is nothing new, but it’s always enjoyable.
Andy: Although the entire cast does an admirable job, Pitt is probably the highlight. This is the type of role Pitt used to play frequently, an energetic simpleton who makes up for shortcomings with sheer enthusiasm. He is able to be a buffoon while still being endearing, and the movie is much more enjoyable because of it.
Ryan: Besides the big names in the cast, the supporting cast including J.K. Simmons and David Rasche excel in the small amount of screen time that they are awarded. The scene at the end of the movie starring these two is an instant classic and nicely ties the movie up. Burn After Reading isn’t as ambitious of a film as No Country For Old Men but sometimes it’s just as difficult to make a good comedy as it is to make a drama. There’s certainly no question that Burn After Reading is a significant upgrade over the Coen Bros. last two cinematic comedic endeavors—The Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty.
Andy: I have to wonder if that great scene at the end of the movie is in some ways a response to the way No Country For Old Men’s ending perplexed audiences. At the end of that movie you get the feeling that something important happened, but you are not sure what it is. The ending of Burn After Reading leaves you with the clear impression that, really, nothing happened, and it is all laid out for the audience clearly. Ultimately this is not as artistically pleasing, but the final scene might be the funniest in the movie, so it works.
Burn After Reading is not an instant classic, but it is very enjoyable.
Ryan: Hot off the heals of their big Academy Award winning picture, No Country For Old Men, the Coen brothers change direction by producing something that they are known for-- a dark comedy. Somewhat in the vein of The Big Lebowski, Burn After Reading showcases a cast of eccentric characters doing ridiculous things. I’m not really sure if the movie is supposed to be saying something but I’m not sure if it really matters. Burn After Reading is an entertaining film with many laughs—or at least smirks.
Andy: Burn After Reading is certainly ridiculous, and I mean that in the best possible way. All of the main characters are ridiculous for in varying ways, and they proceed to entangle in one another’s lives in preposterous ways that we’ve come to expect from the Coen’s. The movie is not without substance, but it’s mostly about good actors getting to have a lot of fun. Fortunately for us, much of that fun translates to the audience.
Ryan: There’s no question that the stellar cast is one of the highlights of the movie. Clooney and McDormand are well familiar with how to make a Coen Brothers film work. It shouldn’t be too surprising that the addition of Pitt, Swinton and Malkovich enhance the shenanigans going on in the film. More specifically Pitt, playing an air-head gym employee, owns every scene that he is in. Seeing Malkovich yell and swear on screen is nothing new, but it’s always enjoyable.
Andy: Although the entire cast does an admirable job, Pitt is probably the highlight. This is the type of role Pitt used to play frequently, an energetic simpleton who makes up for shortcomings with sheer enthusiasm. He is able to be a buffoon while still being endearing, and the movie is much more enjoyable because of it.
Ryan: Besides the big names in the cast, the supporting cast including J.K. Simmons and David Rasche excel in the small amount of screen time that they are awarded. The scene at the end of the movie starring these two is an instant classic and nicely ties the movie up. Burn After Reading isn’t as ambitious of a film as No Country For Old Men but sometimes it’s just as difficult to make a good comedy as it is to make a drama. There’s certainly no question that Burn After Reading is a significant upgrade over the Coen Bros. last two cinematic comedic endeavors—The Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty.
Andy: I have to wonder if that great scene at the end of the movie is in some ways a response to the way No Country For Old Men’s ending perplexed audiences. At the end of that movie you get the feeling that something important happened, but you are not sure what it is. The ending of Burn After Reading leaves you with the clear impression that, really, nothing happened, and it is all laid out for the audience clearly. Ultimately this is not as artistically pleasing, but the final scene might be the funniest in the movie, so it works.
Burn After Reading is not an instant classic, but it is very enjoyable.
Final grade: B+.
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