|
Burn After Reading
Reviewed by Rick Klaw
(September 2008)
Co-Directors/Co-Writers: Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt
|
The Coen Brothers first exploded into the cinematic collective consciousness in 1984 with the thriller Blood Simple. Their 1987 follow-up, the comedic masterpiece Raising Arizona, proved their talent across genres. In the ensuing years, the Coens - often serving as producers, writers, and directors - have created many critically acclaimed and financially successful films, including Miller's Crossing (1990), Fargo (1996), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) and the winner of the 2008 Academy Award for Best Film, No Country for Old Men. Since 2000, the duo has released a pair of disappointing comedic clunkers: Intolerable Cruelty (2003) and The Ladykillers (2004). The Coens hope that Burn After Reading will end their humorous dry spell.
Long-time CIA analyst Ozzie Cox, portrayed by the sardonic John Malkovich, suddenly loses his job and decides to write a memoir about his time with The Agency. His disconsolate, adulteress wife, Katie (Tilda Swinton), wants a divorce. At her lawyer's prompting, Katie secretly copies her husband's financial records, which includes his reminiscences, to a disc. Katie's married lover, Treasury agent Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney), engages in several other sexual affairs. |
The always-reliable Frances McDormand masterfully displays a previously unthinkable trait as the dim-witted but likable Linda Litzke. Fearing that no man could love her aging body, Litzke decides that only extensive plastic surgery can cure her loneliness. But Litzke's insurance will not cover the expensive elective procedures. Her even dumber co-worker, Chad Feldheimer, played by the scene-stealing, surprisingly effeminate Brad Pitt, stumbles across Katie's disc. Believing it to contain encrypted classified information, the dense duo devise a farcical plan involving blackmail, Russians and larceny; enough to get Litzke the money to cover her surgeries.
Similar in tone to the Danny DeVito/Bette Midler vehicle Ruthless People (1986), except with a superior cast and script, Burn After Reading relies on the humor inherent in stupid, unlikable people in untenable situations behaving badly. The characters engage in one moronic action after another, often inducing groans and eye-rolling in the helpless viewer. |
While the screenplay affords some clever moments, Burn After Reading relies on skilled performances to rise above the typically bland late summer Hollywood comedy. J.K. Simmons in a bit part masterfully portrays a befuddled CIA boss. Malkovich provides powerful insight into the collapse and chaos of a pathetic Everyman's universe. However, the usually reliable Clooney sleepwalks through his role of a stereotypical midlife womanizer. These characters, save Litzke and occasionally Cox, engender no sympathy. These are awful people - the kind you don't invite to dinner or visit in the hospital.
Although the best Coen Brothers comedy since O Brother, Where Art Thou?, this movie falls short of a great film. Burn After Reading entertains but ultimately offers a forgettable diversion, destined for a life of ad nauseum reruns on cable TV. -MPM
Photos courtesy of Focus Features. Top: Brad Pitt (photo by Macall Polay) |
|
|
