Burn After Reading – DVD Review

Film, Reviews, Top Story



The Coen Brothers have given new meaning to the word “style” in the way that they don’t really have one. Yeah they have particular little trademarks or shots that you can always tell without a doubt are vintage Coens, but that’s about where all that ends. All you need to do is look at their résumés and notice the sporadic films that line it: Fargo, The Ladykillers, The Big Lebowski, O’ Brother Where Art Thou, and Raising Arizona are about as far from each other in similarities as you can imagine. And then last year was the brilliantly brutal No Country For Old Men. Yet with all their differences, you can still tell they are Coen productions. I guess the same could be said for the immaculate retardation of Burn After Reading.

Osborne Cox has lost his job as an analyst for the C.I.A. and not necessarily because he was doing a bad job. It was due, though, to his alcohol problem and how he can’t put down the bottle. And mind you he didn’t even lose it, but got rid of it after his superiors wanted him to take a lesser position due to his little problem. Deciding to retire and write his memoirs, Osborne decides to take charge of his life, but that doesn’t sit so well with his wife Katie who now wants to leave him to be with her lover Harry. Harry also works for the government in the Treasury Department and is having an affair or two behind Katie’s back with his wife (who he won’t leave) and random other women.

Harry eventually meets a woman named Linda that he becomes rather enamored with, but is concerned with herself and having enough surgeries to totally change her appearance. Linda works at a training facility (gym) with her boss Ted, who secretly pines for her, and Chad who has no real clue about anything in life. To make matters even more complicated, Chad and Linda end up finding a rough copy of Osborne’s memoirs that they eventually figure out could be something big and important. They come up with the idea to blackmail Osborne because Chad knows he could get some cash and Linda realizes this is her ticket to get her surgeries. Osborne wants it back, but has no plans on paying money to morons. This leads to a lot of criss-crossing interactions that lead to hilarious results.

Holy hell, are you confused? After reading what I just wrote, even I’m confused. By seeing the trailer that had appeared on television during its theatrical run, I had no idea that the film would be anything like that. I also had no idea that the plot would be anything remotely like it is. And you may seem confused now, but you won’t be after watching another remarkable production of the Coen brothers who just have a knack for churning out films that somehow end up making sense. The story for Burn After Reading is all over the place but it still flows so well that everything is connected no matter who is on screen. And that’s something each actor does such a great job at doing: making you remember them so much that even when they aren’t on screen, it’s as if they are still there and making an impact.

One of the things that drew me to wanting to review this film so much was the performances of Brad Pitt in the trailer. His quick little dancing move and then that shot he takes from John Malkovich in the face and the hilarious reaction he gives after receiving the hit. Let me just tell you that like many other trailers, those aren’t the only funny moments he delivers throughout the film. He is hilarious throughout and ends up cracking me up with everything from his nutty movements to his stupid faces. Pitt is just off the wall loony here and I would say he makes the whole film, but everyone plays their parts to perfection making every performance all around fantastic.

The film is shown in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format and everything looks great. From the rare bright colors to the dullness of the soft tones; all images come through crisp and clear without a single problem.

The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and it is also done very well as we can hear all dialogue no matter what is happening on screen and with the music lowering itself when needed.

Finding The Burn – Basically what we have here are some interviews with the cast and crew. Everyone gives their thoughts on the film, how shooting went, the story itself, and everything in between. Pretty good stuff but short. (5:21)

DC Insiders Run Amuck – Here are more tidbits with the cast and crew as they discuss their particular characters and even the outfits worn by each of them. (12:24)

Welcome Back George – Hmmm…here George Clooney gets his own little segment and it focuses on his work with the Coen brothers. Um, alright. (2:51)


Maybe it shouldn’t have been, but Burn After Reading turned into an overly pleasant surprise that I’ll end up watching over and over again. The Coen brothers really shouldn’t be able to sneak up on me anymore with such a good film, but for some reason I just wasn’t totally sold on this one. All it took was one viewing and I’m hooked. Man, you never would think that directors/producers/writers could deliver such heartless violence once year only to do a total 180 and come through with comedy that will have you in tears from laughing so hard. I do have an issue with the special features though because we are given next to nothing. Yeah, that should be expected now with Coen releases, but it’s rather annoying because they don’t release a special edition or 2-disc set of their films unless it’s ten or so years later. I mean we couldn’t get more then about twenty minutes worth of interviews? The film itself is good enough to merit purchasing the DVD, but they’ve really got to do something about the lack of extras we get with each Coen brothers’ release.

………………………………………




Universal Studios presents Burn After Reading. Directed by: The Coen Brothers. Starring: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt. Written by: The Coen Brothers. Running time: 96 minutes. Rating: R. Released on DVD: December 21, 2008. Available at Amazon.com