Burn After Reading (12/21/2008)

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence.

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou)

Starring George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton

Burn After Reading is another comedy/thriller from Joel and Ethan Coen. It’s no Fargo… but Coen Brother fans will enjoy it.

At the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Arlington, VA, analyst Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) arrives for a top-secret meeting. Unfortunately for Cox, the secret is soon out: he is being ousted. Cox does not take the news particularly well and returns to his Georgetown home to work on his memoirs and his drinking, not necessarily in that order. His wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) is dismayed, though not particularly surprised; she is already well into an illicit affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney), a married federal marshal, and sets about making plans to leave Cox for Harry.

Elsewhere in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and seemingly worlds apart, Hardbodies Fitness Centers employee Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) can barely concentrate on her work. She is consumed with her life plan for extensive cosmetic surgery, and confides her mission to can-do colleague Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt, hilarious in this role). Linda is all but oblivious to the fact that the gym's manager Ted Treffon (Richard Jenkins) pines for her even as she arranges dates via the Internet with other men.

When a computer disc containing material for the CIA analyst's memoirs accidentally falls into the hands of Linda and Chad, the duo are intent on exploiting their find. As Ted frets, “No good can come of this,” events spiral out of everyone's and anyone's control, in a cascading series of darkly hilarious encounters.

Todd’s Word: Sometimes who you watch a movie with, effects how much you like or dislike it. So when I got the chance to watch Burn After Reading with Jonathan, it made an ok movie pretty entertaining.

Jonathan’s Word: That was fun. We don’t get to watch a whole lot of films together (seeing that you’re in New York and I’m in Cali.)… so it was fun to sit next to each other, hit each other in the arm, and steel your Milk Duds!

Todd’s Word: Fun indeed.

But for those who don’t get to watch it with a friend, the film was enjoyable on its own. Let’s start with some of the obvious things. Joel and Ethan are just flat out amazing directors. Although the pace is on the slower side, the keep-you-guessing plot kept me interested for the entire 96 minutes.

Jonathan’s Word: Yes. The Coen brothers are anything but predictable. If you can predict a Coen brothers’ ending… you probably need psychiatric help.

Todd’s Word: As far as the cast goes, I’m not sure you could ask for better. George Clooney and Brad Pitt are fantastic. Both are in those different kinds of roles but Brad Pitt takes it to a whole new level. Even in one scene where he is running on a treadmill in the background, he is still hysterical. John Malkovich is at the top of his “crazy character” game and Frances McDormand is once again simply great.

Jonathan’s Word: Pitt is hilarious! I used to deem True Romance as having my favorite Brad Pitt character (either that, 12 Monkeys, or Snatch—warning—all of these are really crazy films), but now Burn After Reading created my favorite role for Pitt.

And yes… McDormand is hilarious, and Malkovich is… well… Malkovich.

Todd’s Word: As funny as some moments are, there is a very “Fargo-isc” element. If you have seen Fargo or No Country for Old Men, you know the violent side of the Coen’s. And Burn After Reading has a few moments that really shocked me. One thing that is different is the, as one character put it, “everyone is sleeping with everyone” story line.

Jonathan’s Word: Yes, like most Coen Brothers’ films, it’s pretty raw. These two seem to have a gift for showing the true corny side of our society. As weird as their characters are… we know a few people just like them.

I enjoyed it. But not all people will.

Todd’s Word: It’s not the best Coen Brothers’ film but still a Rental.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Nope. As we said there are a few quick but graphic violent scenes and plenty of sexual situations. The language (especially John Malkovich’s) is pretty graphic.

Side Note:
As said above, we don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

1. What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
2. How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
3. How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?