Author: Zak Stoltz & Cindy Tang
We wish we’d counted the number of times John Malkovich’s character uttered the phrase, “What the fuck?” in Burn After Reading (2008) because after it ended, that was exactly how we felt – but in a good way.
The film’s somewhat scattered plot revolves around the accidental blackmail of disgruntled ex-CIA analyst Osbourne Cox (Malkovich) after two Hardbodies Gym employees, played by Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, find a disc full of “sensitive” government documents. These documents are burned onto a CD by Cox’s wife for her divorce proceedings spurred by her ongoing love affair with neurotic federal marshal Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney). Yeah. It’s that complicated.
The downside to this is that it leads to a slow start and the first real laughs don’t arrive until almost halfway in. Even so, Burn After Reading is most definitely a black comedy filled with startling moments that leave the audience reeling. Even though it’s a film that doesn’t really go anywhere or do anything, Burn After Reading still manages to entertain with its feisty dialogue and character-driven story.
One of the most refreshing aspects of this film is its focus on the part of the CIA we never see. There are no conspiracy theories at work, just the overactive imaginations of two dim-witted gym workers who seem to think there are.
Sure, the bigwigs make an appearance, but like the audience, even they’re not quite sure what’s going on or how to respond. This leads to some of the most entertaining moments of the film in which the CIA officials attempt to piece together the meaning behind the increasingly bizarre events that continue to unfold in their backyard.
But it’s the characters and cast that burn this film into your mind. The characters are not real people; they’re caricatures, each with a near fatal flaw which helps them create their own reality – where schemes to blackmail an ex-CIA analyst seem like good ideas. Their world collides with our own at the film’s surprising climax when the blackmail goes awry.
The film’s A-list cast gives a captivating performance as the people we love to hate. No character is truly good or even likable (except for Brad Pitt, he’s just too cute). Everyone is unpleasant to a certain degree – and sometimes even revolting, but we can still relate to them because they each exhibit those loathsome traits that exist inside ourselves, no matter how hard we try to hide them.
The most memorable character is gym employee and unintentional blackmailer Chad Feldheimer, played by Pitt, who is the audience favorite with his endearing stupidity and groovy dance moves. Pitt’s astoundingly believable performance as the ambitious idiot with a can-do attitude had him clearly cut out to be the comedic relief.
On the other hand, Malkovich is disturbingly convincing as the alcoholic ex CIA analyst with a short fuse – it’s no wonder why every other word that comes out of his mouth is “fuck”.
Cindy:Burn After Reading is definitely a film worth seeing – just not twice. If you can find comedy in grueling struggles for nothing, idiots marinating in their own self-importance and complete disaster all around, then you’re going to get a kick out of this. But don’t come in with No Country For Old Men expectations – Burn After Reading is not the kind of film you’ll be talking about in a month.
Zak: As someone who isn’t a huge fan of Coen Brothers comedies, I was pleasantly surprised by Burn After Reading . I thought it was good, not great, but definitely entertaining. It had some hilariously memorable moments, but the laughs were too few and far between to make me want to see it again.
Final Verdict: It lacks the sensation and overall quality of No Country For Old Men, but if you’re a Coen Brothers buff looking for more Fargo with a bit of The Big Lebowski dialogue, you’ll find it in Burn After Reading . Just don’t be surprised if you leave the theater wanting more.
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