Opened on September 12, 2008 • 95 minutes
When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), the two gym employees see a chance to make enough money for her to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo doofuses and those in their orbit.
FILM REVIEW: BURN AFTER READING
By Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune Movie Critic
2 stars
The dour espionage goof "Burn After Reading" offers a few laughs, most of them provided by Brad Pitt as a serenely clueless gym employee who really, really likes his iPod, and by David Rasche and J.K. Simmons as C.I.A. analysts who don't know anything about anything. On screen, delusional schmoes are more fun than smart people, and in the latest film from Joel and Ethan Coen, the imperious former spook played by John Malkovich accuses his blackmailers, played by Pitt and Frances McDormand, of heading a "league of morons." Washington, D.C., here is a town built on a swamp of stupid, and as in all Coen japes, stupid has at least a 40 percent chance of getting you killed in spectacularly violent fashion.
But the cosmic joke being played on the morons here isn't much fun in the telling.
The disappointment of "Burn After Reading" has nothing to do with it being a less "serious" or "grown-up" project than the Coens' previous one, last year's "No Country for Old Men," which won them a best picture Oscar. "No Country" was no less dependent on grim comic irony than "Burn After Reading," a daisy chain of chancy decisions leading to blood all over a bedroom closet wall. The disappointment here is simply a matter of limited surprise and surprisingly meager wit.
The brothers are unlikely ever to make a slovenly or unpolished film. Each script they concoct boasts at least one (usually more) clever intersection of narratives or a turn of phrase you couldn't get from any other contemporary filmmaker. In "Burn After Reading" one such phrase is "lactose reflux," a condition George Clooney's character claims to have, and the way he says it - this is at a party attended by the D.C. federal marshal's mistress, played by a flame-haired, ferociously controlling Tilda Swinton - you can't trust him. Only Richard Jenkins' love for the McDormand character (he's the manager of the suburban gym who can't understand why she wants to spend thousands of dollars on plastic surgery) provides a little contrast for all the craven yutzes' behavior.
The blackmail plot hinges on a computer disk, which McDormand's character, Linda Litzke, wants to sell to the Russians. It's a ridiculous non-starter of a plan, and the movie never builds up much steam. The cast is very good, and they're ready to play, but the playground is designed in bloodlessly clever fashion. As photographed by Emmanuel Lubezki, "Burn After Reading" looks like "Three Days of the Condor" or "The Good Shepherd" with a lot of bug-eyed muggers in it, working at one notch below their best abilities. Clooney remains as game as ever, but the way he and McDormand push the energy here, you feel the strain. Pitt, just floating through, comes off best. He doesn't judge the moron he's playing; he just is.
MPAA rating: R (for pervasive language, some sexual content, and violence)
Running time: 1:36
Starring: George Clooney (Harry Pfarrer); Frances McDormand (Linda Litzke); John Malkovich (Osbourne Cox); Tilda Swinton (Katie Cox); Richard Jenkins (Ted Treffon); Brad Pitt (Chad Feldheimer)
Written, produced and directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen; photographed by Emmanuel Lubezki; edited by Roderick Jaynes; music by Carter Burwell; production design by Jess Gonchor. A Focus Features release.
By Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune Movie Critic
2 stars
The dour espionage goof "Burn After Reading" offers a few laughs, most of them provided by Brad Pitt as a serenely clueless gym employee who really, really likes his iPod, and by David Rasche and J.K. Simmons as C.I.A. analysts who don't know anything about anything. On screen, delusional schmoes are more fun than smart people, and in the latest film from Joel and Ethan Coen, the imperious former spook played by John Malkovich accuses his blackmailers, played by Pitt and Frances McDormand, of heading a "league of morons." Washington, D.C., here is a town built on a swamp of stupid, and as in all Coen japes, stupid has at least a 40 percent chance of getting you killed in spectacularly violent fashion.
But the cosmic joke being played on the morons here isn't much fun in the telling.
The disappointment of "Burn After Reading" has nothing to do with it being a less "serious" or "grown-up" project than the Coens' previous one, last year's "No Country for Old Men," which won them a best picture Oscar. "No Country" was no less dependent on grim comic irony than "Burn After Reading," a daisy chain of chancy decisions leading to blood all over a bedroom closet wall. The disappointment here is simply a matter of limited surprise and surprisingly meager wit.
The brothers are unlikely ever to make a slovenly or unpolished film. Each script they concoct boasts at least one (usually more) clever intersection of narratives or a turn of phrase you couldn't get from any other contemporary filmmaker. In "Burn After Reading" one such phrase is "lactose reflux," a condition George Clooney's character claims to have, and the way he says it - this is at a party attended by the D.C. federal marshal's mistress, played by a flame-haired, ferociously controlling Tilda Swinton - you can't trust him. Only Richard Jenkins' love for the McDormand character (he's the manager of the suburban gym who can't understand why she wants to spend thousands of dollars on plastic surgery) provides a little contrast for all the craven yutzes' behavior.
The blackmail plot hinges on a computer disk, which McDormand's character, Linda Litzke, wants to sell to the Russians. It's a ridiculous non-starter of a plan, and the movie never builds up much steam. The cast is very good, and they're ready to play, but the playground is designed in bloodlessly clever fashion. As photographed by Emmanuel Lubezki, "Burn After Reading" looks like "Three Days of the Condor" or "The Good Shepherd" with a lot of bug-eyed muggers in it, working at one notch below their best abilities. Clooney remains as game as ever, but the way he and McDormand push the energy here, you feel the strain. Pitt, just floating through, comes off best. He doesn't judge the moron he's playing; he just is.
MPAA rating: R (for pervasive language, some sexual content, and violence)
Running time: 1:36
Starring: George Clooney (Harry Pfarrer); Frances McDormand (Linda Litzke); John Malkovich (Osbourne Cox); Tilda Swinton (Katie Cox); Richard Jenkins (Ted Treffon); Brad Pitt (Chad Feldheimer)
Written, produced and directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen; photographed by Emmanuel Lubezki; edited by Roderick Jaynes; music by Carter Burwell; production design by Jess Gonchor. A Focus Features release.
Cast
- George Clooney Harry Pfarrer
- Frances McDormand Linda Litzke
- John Malkovich Osborne Cox
- Tilda Swinton Katie Cox
- Brad Pitt Chad Feldheimer
- Richard Jenkins Ted
- Elizabeth Marvel Sandy Pfarrar
- David Rasche CIA Officer
- J.K. Simmons CIA Superior
- Jeffrey DeMunn Cosmetic Surgeon
Crew
- Joel Coen Director
- Ethan Coen Director
- Joel Coen Writer
- Ethan Coen Writer
- Joel Coen Producer
- Ethan Coen Producer
- Tim Bevan Executive Producer
- Eric Fellner Executive Producer
- Robert Graf Executive Producer
- Emmanuel Lubezki Cinematographer
- Roderick Jaynes Film Editor
- Carter Burwell Original Music
- Jess Gonchor Production Design
- David Swayze Art Director
- Nancy Haigh Set Decoration
- Mary Zophres Costume Designer
- Ellen Chenoweth Casting
Pervasive Language, Some Sexual Content and Violence
