Burn After Reading

I dare the Coen brothers to make a movie that I don’t like. Their latest, “Burn After Reading” couldn’t be more directly opposite than last year’s Oscar-sweeper, “No Country For Old Men”. Apparently (and amazingly), they were working on this script while writing “No Country” – alternating days on each. Like “Raising Arizona” and “Fargo”, they once again carry out the theme of the ordinary Joe trying to pull off the extraordinary heist — one that perhaps in an alternate reality, could change their little lives. They also casted the usual suspects: Frances McDormand, George Clooney, Richard Jenkins and J.K. Simmons with newcomers Brad Pitt and John Malkovich as perfect additions (if not stand-outs).

The story goes as such: A disk containing the memoirs of an ousted-CIA agent (Malkovich) ends up in the hands of two screwy gym employees (McDormand and Pitt) who believe it contains top-secret intelligence. What follows are their attempts to sell it and the disastrous results of their large pipedreams and small brains. I laughed the whole way through. They poke fun at everything from Internet dating to the paranoia of political espionage. And in between, everyone’s sleeping with everyone…especially George Clooney. “Burn” has all the makings of the Coens: Amusing and macabre with the dark side of human nature lurking just beneath.

Apparently, this is their first film without cinematographer, Roger Deakins. I’m not sure I would have known the difference, as the writing and acting were the main attractions for me. What made it especially hilarious was the willingness of all these A-list actors to adapt into roles that made them look like total buffoons. Kudos to Brad Pitt! I didn’t know he was so funny. Long story short: It’s a bright flick about dim-wits. Don’t miss it!