The actors give great performances. John Malkovich plays Osborn Cox with a short fuse. The punch to the face he delivers to Brad Pitt is the funniest bit of slapstick I’ve seen in awhile. Tilda Swinton’s facial expressions for Katie redefine clinical. One scene of hers spoofs her witch character from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I won’t say how, just watch. George Clooney returns to the fidgety, buggy-eyed mode that we saw in O Brother, Where Art Thou? In this movie, his eyes almost roll out of their sockets. As Linda, Frances McDormand displays the persistence of her sheriff role from Fargo but in a more pathetic form.
Brad Pitt’s Chad stands out most and I’m not just talking about his constant wearing of red workout clothes. His part is so radically different from his other movies. Pitt magically transforms into an imbecile here — impossible yes, but it’s true. Instead of a suave, cool movie star, we see a person who clearly doesn’t understand how the real world works. Watch his blank reaction when Cox explains that Chad’s blackmailing him by asking for a monetary reward for turning in the lost CD.
The Coens' usual critics will call Burn After Reading a plot exercise in stupidity but it’s still funny. The brothers obviously try to drive their characters completely batty. In the middle of the film, Harry causes an accident in Cox’s house and flees. He’s frantic though the CIA has cleaned up the mess without telling him.
The picture is as funny as this past summer’s Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder. Just listen as CIA officers played by J.K Simmons (Juno) and David Rasche attempt to figure out the whole brainless affair. But it’s not in same league as No Country For Old Men. I wish it had a few more wacko Big Lebowski moments before ending so fast. One bizarre moment does appear to have been thought up on another planet though. I’ll give you a clue. Harry is building something odd in his basement. I won’t say anything more. Not that you’d be able to predict it anyway.
Grade: B+
Article comments
1 - Joanne Huspek
Sounds like it would be right up my alley. I'll wait for the DVD.
2 - Christina
It was very appalling, wasn't that funny, and had so much dirty language that i stopped watching it, i don't recommend it at all.