Reviewed by Alexsays

Released: 9/12/08
1 hr. 35 min.
R
Coen Brothers/ Focus Features

George Clooney
Brad Pitt
Frances McDormand
John Malkovich

Anyone who is remotely familiar with the satirical comedy style of the brothers Coen will not be too disappointed by their new offering, Burn after Reading. Pitt plays the role of a totally empty headed gym employee, who along with McDormand (a personal trainer at the same gym), comes upon a computer disc containing what appears to be government information. (Do they try to locate the owner and return it? Are you kidding, this is a Coen movie.) These two half brains decide that this disc is the key to their future happiness. Poor McDormand wants body sculpting by lipo to achieve perfection and Pitt wants what she wants.

They are immediately drawn to the idea of using this disc to blackmail the owner into coughing up some serious cash. McDormand is overly desperate for liposuction to help her create her body beautiful which will solve all the problems of the world, at least in her own mind. She and Pitt are going to use some of the blackmail money for this worthy cause. In a true case of what they don’t know will hurt them, they do not realize that the disc contains information that was already stolen. The file that the information was lifted from belongs to a CIA employee, played by John Malkovich.

This theft was perpetrated by his wife who is planning to make good use of it as a pre-emptive strike in her plan for a divorce. Once Malkovich uncovers both of these plots he puts his own more ruthlessly designed plans in gear. Keep in mind that with all of the Coen films, there are always parallel and perpendicular plots to keep track of as well as trying to follow the main storyline.

The wife is hoping to divorce quickly and hook up with her boyfriend, played by George Clooney. Clooney’s character works for the Treasury department and he is a conniving Don Juan who is loyal to no one, especially the many women in his life. Clooney’s character is not only married, but he is also romancing McDormand’s character in addition to dangling Malkovich’s wife on a string. Viewers are all quick to note that this not so romantic triangle is going to play heavily in the movie. There are some great moments of satire and comedy to be found in how Clooney handles some of the more romantic moments with his harem.

Viewers will have to stay focused in order to follow the devious and somewhat twisted storyline that often strays a bit too far off target in this film, and at times the attempts at comedy become too forced and heavy handed. There are a few moments of absolute comedic genius involving Pitt who is excellent as he delivers his great “blonde” moments. If you understand how the Coen brothers operate you should have little problem keeping pace with the wacky and often frantic action.

By the end of the movie you are wondering if the Coen duo should offer lessons in duplicity and treachery to the CIA and Treasury department. Some of the reasoning and actions by the characters can only leave fans slightly confused because there are more than a few moments which seem to be completely disjointed from the rest of the film.
Chalk it up to artistic license, overlook some of the more tiresome and contorted conversations and enjoy a few laughs.

Bottom Line: 3.5/5.0