Burn After Reading

Post by **Leisher** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:01 pm

People in Hollywood sometimes think they're smarter, funnier, and cuter than they actually are and this is proof.

This movie tries to be too clever, too dark, too everything. Not that the movie sucks, but it's not a movie you have to see or one you should feel bad about missing.

John Malkovich shines, as always, as a data analyst for the CIA who has been demoted and is going through a divorce. He decides to write his memoirs and they unintentionally end up in the hands of a few morons that work at a gym (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt). Meanwhile, a treasury agent, George Clooney, is the guy screwing Malkovich's wife and McDormand.

The acting is pretty good throughout, but the writing drags the film down. The story functions only because most of the characters are idiots and not because there is any logical progression. Everything just feels awkward throughout and many of the characters could be removed without the movie suffering.

If you haven't seen it, you aren't missing anything.

5 out of 10.

Post by **GORDON** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 12:51 am

I agree with the 5/10. Malkovich is great, and Pitt again successfully breaks his mold. But generally... I dunno.

I don't think I like Coen Brothers movies, in general.

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:15 am

It was much better after rewatching it. It's running on HBO, and I've watched it with other people who hadn't seen it. MUCH more entertaining as a rewatch. Different expectations, I guess, and there's alot more humor in it than I originally thought.

WSGrundy · Post by **WSGrundy** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:02 pm

Ending sucked not sure why it happened but Pitt was funny in each of his scenes and I was glad I watched it.

I don't get the secret device clooney was working on in his basement. Was it just to show he was some sort of deviant or did I miss something that explained it.

Nowhere near the Coen bros best film but still good. I think I would have preferred if they just would have kept it a goofy comedy.

Post by **Troy** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:08 am

WSGrundy wrote:Ending sucked not sure why it happened but Pitt was funny in each of his scenes and I was glad I watched it.

I don't get the secret device clooney was working on in his basement. Was it just to show he was some sort of deviant or did I miss something that explained it.

Nowhere near the Coen bros best film but still good. I think I would have preferred if they just would have kept it a goofy comedy.

He was a sick fuck who, after seeing the exorbitant prices on other sex machines, decided to build his own... in his basement...

That's how I saw it, anyway.

Also, the funniest part of the movie is Pitt's face right before X. You can tell he's already decided how he's going to explain his predicament but... nope.