Review: Burn After Reading (2008)

[Steve Rhodes]

BURN AFTER READING
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2008 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****):  ***

BURN AFTER READING bursts with wonderfully wacky intrigue.  Although its 
trailers might make it seem too silly, the Coen Brothers, Ethan and Joel, 
manage to get pitch perfect performances from their large and very talented 
cast. It may not be FARGO funny, but it is really cute.

The secret to the success of this comedy is that it never takes itself too 
seriously.  There are no political speeches or messages, but all of the 
actors approach the comedy as if it were high drama, which makes the jokes 
especially effective.

The story is a bit of a tempest in a teapot, but most of the characters 
believe that they are involved in a very high level game of espionage.  The 
film's dramatic music, which is heavy on the low bass and uses drums 
extensively, punctuates the story line with a goofy gusto, adding more 
pseudo-seriousness.

The story starts with the demotion of Osborne "Ozzie" Cox (John Malkovich). 
A bow-tied CIA analyst in a three-piece suit, he can't believe he is taken 
off of the Balkans desk because of his alleged (and actual) drinking 
problem, so he quits and starts writing his memoir.

Katie (Tilda Swinton), Ozzie's ice princess of a wife, is currently having 
an affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney), a U. S. Marshall who 
frequently jokes that he has never discharged his firearm in his two decades 
of service.  Since Katie is an obnoxious, take-no-prisoners lover, Harry has 
been shopping around lately on the internet for her replacement.

Also trolling the internet dating services is Linda Litzke (Frances 
McDormand), a fitness trainer at the local Hardbodies Fitness Center.  A 
woman obsessed with having four separate and expensive plastic surgeries 
that she can't afford, she explains to her boss, Ted Treffon (Richard 
Jenkins), that her big rear "swings like a shopping cart with a bent wheel." 
Flaws and all, she finds that her body is attractive to Harry, who likes 
nothing better than sleeping around.

So what, you ask, does all of this have to do with espionage?

Well, one day at the gym, one trainer finds a CD with names and numbers of 
what appear to be CIA agents.  When Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), Linda's 
coworker, gets hold of it, he hatches a scheme for them to get a reward from 
its owner, who appears to be Ozzie.  This might work except that Ozzie is 
dangerous maniac who no longer works for the agency and Chad is a complete 
doofus.  A card-carrying member of Morons R Us, Chad is the worst possible 
person to try to shake down a dangerous and deranged guy like Ozzie.  When 
an awkwardly dressed Chad first meets Ozzie, Chad warns him that 
"appearances can be deceptive."  Pitt, in a bit of unusual casting, is 
hilarious in his part.

The very entertaining film is a sheer delight.  And, it's smart enough not 
to overstay its welcome, running a brisk ninety-one minutes and no more. 
It's not a great comedy, but it sure is a thoroughly satisfying one.

BURN AFTER READING runs 1:31.  It is rated R for "pervasive language, some 
sexual content and violence" and would be acceptable for teenagers.

The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, September 12, 
2008.  In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the 
Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.

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