DVDs
Burn After Reading (2008) DVD
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand
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The Coen brothers have made a career out of confusing people. Not just with the twisty-turny shenanigans of their films, but in the odd, often frustrating comportment of their careers.
After several years of disappointments when it seemed like the Coens were wasting their unique talent for pitch black comedy combined with the forensic study of characters tripping their way through a moral maze, they finally got it right with No Country for Old Men – perhaps their tightest and most effective film to date.
So the fact that Burn After Reading surprised so many of their fans is, in its own way, no surprise at all. But that it seemed to provoke such anger and casual dismissals is disappointing. More light-headed than No Country, but no more light-hearted, Burn After Reading might not stand comparison with the brothers’ very best, but it still offers a masterclass in scriptwriting as well as some of the year’s most sledgehammer surprises.
The plot is a typically convoluted affair. John Malkovich has a great time as Osbourne ‘What the fuck?!’ Cox, a low-ranking CIA analyst who decides to write his excruciatingly banal ‘memoirs’ after being given the heave-ho. When a CD containing the half-finished masterwork is left at George’s Gym, it’s discovered by Brad Pitt’s Chad, an epically dumb, gum-chewing himbo who, along with BFF Linda (Frances McDormand), decides to try and sell the CD to the Russians after failing to blackmail Cox himself. Linda, meanwhile, is having an affair with Harry (George Clooney), another ex-spook and serial cocksman who’s also sleeping with Osbourne’s wife, Katie, played by Tilda Swinton. Suffice to say, shit does not go according to plan.
Every member of the cast looks to be having a great time, especially Pitt who, although the script is uncharacteristically coy about it, is flamboyantly and hilariously gay. The Coens serve up some ripe dialogue and brilliant set-pieces which the cast dutifully knock over the fence, especially when Clooney joyfully reveals the contraption that he’s been working on in his basement.
Where No Country was a film fixated on the future and the past, Burn After Reading is totally invested in the moment, extracting every ounce of dark fun from the progressively more extreme story. That said, it takes a little while to come to the boil. It’s not as easy in manner or instantly likeable as, say, The Big Lebowski, but as all the strands come together in the film’s second half, you can only marvel at the Coens’ expert control and the operatic absurdity of their vision.
Glad to see someone else enjoyed Burn after Reading. I was surprised at some of the negative reactions, as I thoguht it was classic Coens brorthers – wittty and perceptive with a lively if nonsensical plot. I think it may fall into favour with more people on further viewings. I remember, I didn't much like Lebowski first time I saw it.
Written by Bobby_Floyd on February 6th, 2009 at 10:51
For sure! I loved it! I was working in a cinema when it came out and watched it twice on opening night, back to back, delightedly soaking up every minute of it, even the immediate second viewing. I was so surprised by the grumbling miseries who sulked out with 'Well, what was the fucking point in that?', clearly missing the whole point of there being no point. I thought the big panning in and then out of a giant google-earth-like map at beginning and end, a big signal towards the total lack of point in everything we do was a pretty clear signal. Here are some nobodies struggling with a big ball of tangled misunderstandings. Hysterically funny, well observed, jolly good fun.
Written by Ochocka on February 6th, 2009 at 20:40