Burn after reading, not watching
It is my suspicion, built upon my experience as a brother, that Joel and Ethan Coen will systematically produce a film that they themselves find hilarious as a means of relaxation after giving us all something truly ground breaking. After “Fargo” they made “The Big Lebowski”, after “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou” they gave us “The Lady Killers.” And now, after “No Country for Old Men” they have given us “Burn After Reading.”
This is how brothers work. We have our own senses of humor that the majority of any given audience would find annoying, or even demented. I’m afraid that, while a notable film, “Burn after Reading” will surely go unnoticed and sadly under-appreciated.
The movie finds validation on the merit of its cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Francis McDormand, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton, all wildly entertaining to watch.
George Clooney gives us the same handsome character built upon boyish charm, Brad Pitt delivers a marvelous performance as the perfect simpleton and John Malkovich acts in, one can only assume, the exact way that he actually does.
The Coen brothers wrote interesting and compelling characters, perfectly casted and acted, as if to a fault. In a large overview, this is the saving grace of the film itself, because the plot suffers from over complexity, as most of the Coen brothers’ lesser viewed films do.
A close example of what one can expect with “Burn After Reading” would be a kind of over-sexed and abruptly hyper-violent version of “North by Northwest,” except that there isn’t anyone who really knows what is going on.
I must admit, I found the film a tad overly vulgar. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good expletive as much as the next guy, but it seems that in the writing of this film the Coens’ thesaurus had run dry.
Also, a moment of perversion and long-dwelled-upon violence are given disturbing attention in the cinematography. While these may be the jokes that brothers snicker at riding in the back of their parent’s car, it is possible that it may not make polite movie conversation.
If you are looking for a refreshingly good movie and aren’t a Mormon, then “Burn After Reading” is for you.
Dave gave this film 3 ½ out 5 stars.
