Burn After Reading (2008) Movie Review

The Coen Brothers’ Burn After Reading is the two talented brothers’ return to the dark zany comedy that has been the focus of their past classic films like Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, and Fargo. Though Burn After Reading is nothing close to being as amusing as their most popular films, it is still typical Coens and welcomed returned for them after winning numerous Oscars last year for their superior thriller No Country for Old Men.

The plot is very complicated and difficult to describe, which is typical for the Coens. The film opens with a CIA worker named Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) quitting his job, after a officer (David Rasche) attempts to reassign him to a lower position for alcohol abuse. Baffled Osborne goes home to a social party thrown by his wife Katie (Tilda Swinton), who is a pediatrician and is also sleeping with ex-government agent Harry (George Clooney), who is also happily married and also dates women off of the Internet. One of Harry’s dates is Linda (Frances McDormand), who works at a local fitness gym with her good friend that no-so bright Chad (Brad Pitt). A computer disc with important information from Osborne’s computer is turned into Linda and Chad, who then turn to blackmail Osborne for money. Linda in fact wants a couple of cosmetic surgeries to make her feel better about herself, and Chad is merely along for the ride. A crazy comedy ensues that spins more and more out of control, even when you think that all will end nice, it doesn’t.

The Coens has a special way of spiraling and film more and more out of the ordinary, while never getting their cleverness or focused tangled and maintaining the entertainment value of what they are creating. Like much of their work, Burn After Reading inhabits terrific original characters with numerous tics. From Osborne Cox to Chad to the CIA head boss (J.K. Simmons), all the characters in this film have their comedic moment to shine and are humorous Coen creations. The dialogue is crisp and the interactions are witty, with each scene building up to a finale scene that will have audiences laughing while exiting the theatre. This film is a very funny comedy, but it is also a dark comedy, which may turn people off if the disturbing moments blind the Coen’s comedic gift.

The cast seems to have a ball with their characters in this film. Ethan Coen’s wife Frances McDormand delivers her second solid performance this year along with Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day as Linda. George Clooney and Tilda Swinton reunited from the serious fare of Michael Clayton, to being a quirky affair couple as Harry and Katie. J.K. Simmons only has a few scenes in the film as a boss of the CIA and is flat out hilarious. The best of the film is for sure Malkovich and Pitt. As Osborne Cox, Malkovich gets angry a lot and drops continuously f-bombs, even under his breath at moments. As the free-spirited and not so bright Chad, Pitt nearly steals the show and his whole demeanor from sucking down water sideways from his thirst bottle or enjoying the music of his iPod are memorable and really funny.

Though Burn After Reading is not a sure classic Coen brothers film, it is still a very good dark comedy that is a welcomed return for the Coens to their typical fare.