Thank you for checking out our Burn After Reading Review. If you’d like to see the video version of our Burn After Reading Review you can watch it at the bottom of this post.
The General Idea
Plot synopsis from IMDB: A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.
The Good
Nihilistic Delight
This was a very quirky lighthearted film for a dark nihilistic comedy. I was amazed at how frivolous they were able to keep this film with so many dark themes bubbling underneath and the ongoing, compounding tragedies that culminated in a vicious crescendo.
The Players
The performances in the film were outstanding; everyone played their characters as caricatures, in fairy tale fashion. Brad Pitt (Chad Feldheimer) is a gum chewing gym dude, McDormand (Linda Litzke) is his self loathing, lonely co-worker. Malcovitch (Osborne Cox)is an alcoholic ivy league grad that won’t let anyone forget it (including himself), Swinton (Katie Cox) is his mechanical, opportunistic wife that seeks an exit from matrimony the moment he ceases to bring home a check. George Clooney (Harry Pfarrer) bangs the gang together (pun intended) through his adulterous addiction.
The Theme Of Vanity
I like the Coen Brothers quite a lot, and consider them to be among the greatest artists in their field. Much of this has to do with their execution of themes; you have to read between the lines and search them yourself. In this film the common thread of Vanity was stitched throughout. Vanity of Vanities all is vanity! decreed the prophet of Ecclesiastes (and this very well could have been an alternate title for this film). When someone is consumed by vanity, that which is unimportant becomes all consuming.
Linda Litzke is a middle aged character that looks just fine, but is terrified about getting older. When the opportunity presents itself to blackmail Osborne Cox, she is able to justify it because the money will pay for her plastic surgeries; the highest good. Chad Feldheimer, who serves as an avatar of vanity in this film, continually whispers positive affirmation in her ear, like the devil on her shoulder.
Malcovitch is an intellectual drunk, who gets fired from his job because of his problem; but continually refuses to admit that he has one. Because of his intellect and pedigree he feels free from reproach and above mortal men. When “2 idiots” seek to blackmail him over a disk of personal information, his ego flares up and propels him toward needless confrontation. The fact that lesser humans feel they have the right to expect anything from him, causes him to defend his honor, his pride, his ego; the very things that fuel his vanity.
The vanity of intellect meets the vanity of body and all sorts of fallout happens as a result, and at the end of the day – it was much ado about nothing. That which is all consuming to the vain is nonsense to the outsider. Only when you remember that all is vanity are you free to walk the path of wisdom. The path of wisdom and the path of vanity may have the same destination, but on the path of wisdom you are able to enjoy the surroundings. With vanity, you chase the wind.
The Bad
I didn’t care for many of the haircuts, especially Brad Pitt’s getup – but that was the point.
Overall
No Country was a heavy nihilistic tale; this one was light and airy, fun and fluffy. I thought that the feel of the film was a perfect way to tell the story and illuminate the themes. I enjoy dark comedies very much, and this was a good one indeed. Out of 10, I would give this film an 8.
You can watch the video version of the Burn After Reading review here:
“I’m pretty sure it said it was a comedy and i laughed a total of once when i was leaving and the other guy in the cinema said “what the hell was that”.”
The first moment I laughed was after reading that.
Thank you.
Worst movie ever!
the book is burn after reading.
but once you see th movie. you will think about another title as:
DELETE AFTER WATCHING
or SHIFT-DELETE AFTER WATCHING
it’s really the worst movie ever…
EVEEEEEEEEEEEER
You clearly haven’t seen Prom Night.
who honestly comes up with a movie
that is about a storyline that dosent make sense
some people have to much free time i swear….
i wouldnt recommend seeing it ever in you entire life EVER
unless you want to see a heap of bullshit
that doesnt make sense
is only mildy funny
is practically ridiculous beyond words
had the worst acting and the worst storyline and the worst script ever
and will leave you bored for almost two hours
then go ahead and see it
otherwise
dont bother!
i really didnt think it was that great
it had some funny moments
but overall it just made no sense what so ever
bradd pitt wasnt that great, he just played a jock….
at the dead body stage onwards it just got really ridculous
but i guess it was good for a laugh
There is one word that really sums up this film it begins with SH and ends in IT. There was no point to it, the theme of stupidity really came through that i paid to see the film, the cinema had 3 people in including me and my girlfreind (really popular film).
I’m pretty sure it said it was a comedy and i laughed a total of once when i was leaving and the other guy in the cinema said “what the hell was that”.
Stupid pointless waste of my life, isnt even worth watching at all, dont pay to see it dont even think about seeing it, High school musical would be a better film and i refuse at point blank to watch that.
This movie fucking rocked. It was funny as hell and I laughed my ass off the whole time.
We have…your shit
BURN BEFORE WATCHING!..would be a more appropriate title.
Probably the worst film I have seen in the last 3 years. Appalling is too kind a word for this self-indulgent pile of tosh.
Someone obviously had a “bright idea” but absolutely nothing else.
Don’t waste your money. Coen Brothers I want a refund!
Hmmm, quite the attention seeker arn’t we?
It’s hilarious that you actually sat down and typed that… dribble.
As Malkovich would say “Who the fuck are you”?
Last time I checked the Russian’s wern’t ‘hungary’ for information in the film, they actually dismissed the CD infront of Chad and Linda.
Every second bastard and his dog has wrote about vanity and the messages it brings, be original.
I’m assuming I’m writing to no learnid scholar as your pseudonym is ‘care bear’.
Scout points for trying though as you seem to have the intelligence of a bear, and care a little too much about blog sites.
I can imagine you sitting in the theatre with a note pad and pen, ‘doodling’ key phrases and supposed themes for all Coen brothers movies to come.'”I don’t know what the fuck you just did” (refer to carebear’s meaningless essay), but “never do it again’.
I thought that the movie’s theme of vanity was the primary message that the Coen Brothers were trying to relate us to; but I also believed that they used the Cold War as the premise of their warning us not to let the vanity that is affecting our world to completely drown us in a tidal wave of superficiality and sex. The Coen Brothers used the Cold War as the frame work in which they draped their vanity like new clothes on a static mannequin. What led me to think about the Cold War were several things: Clooney and Swinton’s get togethers on the Cox’s boat was one example. The British Swinton with her english accent represented the Britain just as Clooney (U.S.A), with his unfaltering supply of energy (money) met “on the pond” in Malkovich’s (CIA’s) boat. The two countries were allies in the Cold war. Clooney’s project in the basement is equal to that of the American’s arms race with nuclear power, creating an incredibly destructive force. This destructive force in the vanity theme is the sex machine, and in the Cold War theme it is the nuclear weapon. The Coen brothers cleverly bring in the Russian aspect in the Cold War with the information hungry Russian Embassy in the movie in which McDormand and Pitt attempt to sell information about the C.I.A. so they can fund their own needs. The government in the movie has no idea what the motives for all of the killing is. And all they learn is “Not to do it again” as the CIA supervisor points out to his officer. One final forewarning not to let vanity control who we are, or we’ll all get hurt.
worst movie ever. talk about low budget films. If Brad and George had put some money into it they could have made it better. First Chad is all about his looks. Harry is a man slut. There was not even an ending. it was the stupidest movie i have ever seen. I cannot believe that George and Brad would associate with this film. throughout parts of the movie you can see the mics overhead. The cast was filmed too close to them. Guys you should have used a different angle on lots of the scenes. You can do better than this i am sure. Waste of good money.
Ok – this is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a loooong time! What a refreshingly hilarious satire, mocking the ignorance and vanity of society today, I am amazed at all the so-so reviews of this movie. Just goes to show that the comedy is too deep for the masses to understand since it’s not ben stiller style in your face comedy (no disrespect to ben stiller). With exception to chad-brad’s character, which was obvious gag humour, but I suspect his role was to appeal to those who wouldn’t get any of the other characters. All I have to say is that this movie is brilliant!
)Has anyone out there noticed that this is also a sexual farce, even more than a spy comedy? All of the women make out, and all of the men lose. What does that tell us about us, that we do not even notice this theme? I have just read a number of reviews, and can’t find any reference to the sexual theme of the plot.
Brother Cohens make extraordinary films this time. I loved NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (I think it’s their best film), so did I with their new film. Hilarious and with great performances (Malkovich rules).
I love George Clooney in a goofy role but the best part of this movie were the previews.
Brad Pitt can be so funny, as long as he’s not taking himself too seriously… in any case, it’s about time someone made good use of his habitually spastic arm movements
Great movie. Themes of vanity and irony were really played out in an original form. Acting was really good. Not really sure why people are saying it’s bad.
I do not like brothers cohen so I would expect the same reaction as yours… BUT
“My last movie with this kind of reaction was Annie Hall, another media touted comedy event that left the theater ”
Annie Hall is not a comedy, Woody doesn’t make comedies. Yeah, it might be funny but it’s much more serious.
If you like boring movies that are advertised as a comedy but are not in the least bit funny, this is your movie . The part with Brad Pitt acting clueless is the only running gag in the show. The audience that we watched with all had the same reaction. “Why did I pay good money to see this unfunny boring mess”. A better name for the movie would have been “Burn before watching”. Save your dollars for something truely funny. The funniest part of the movie is when you walk out of the theater with the rest of the crowd and wonder how could you have wasted more time being less entertained. My last movie with this kind of reaction was Annie Hall, another media touted comedy event that left the theater quite with people walking out scratching their heads. I guess somebody is laughing somewhere all the way to the bank.
Dont kid yourself. The movie was pointless, not a single person laughed, and it sucks overall.
This is one of the one of the worst movies i’ve seen in a long time with such good actors.
Didn’t think it was all that good.
Good acting, some good lines at times and interspersed laughs. However everything in between was just damn boring.
But thats about it.
Not worth a second watch from me.
It rules brah! – There you go.
Dude, next time around cut the bullshit and just review the fuckin’ movie.
Brad Pitt one of my favorite acter. I can’t wait to see this movie also.
I’ve been waiting to see this for a while now, glad to see it’s getting good reviews. And, I like the contrast to NCFOM you made.A lot of the themes the Coen brothers play on is part of nihilism in humanity.
Nice review. I can’t wait to see this movie.
saw it yesterday and loved it……the 2 cia guys that were discussing everything that happened was great……george clooney was gold as well…..good review great flick….
Doug,
Another line just popped in my head when I woke up this morning:
Brad Pitt with squinty eyes: “Looks can be very…deceptive.”
Malkovich: “WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!”
Brad Pitt: “Looks can be….deceptive.”
The delivery of the line We have…your shit was incredible
The deliver of the line We have…your shit was incredible
Got back from seeing it, and It was brilliant! One of my favorite movies this year.
Man, I thought I pulled a lot of meaning out of that film, but you totally hit it with the vanity theme. Like, that was a HOLY SHIT moment when you said that.
best line
“We have…your shit.”
Good review thanks Doug!
I literally just got back from seeing this movie….
It wasn’t what I was expecting but I ended up enjoying it a lot.
The first 15-20 minutes I was bored to tears and thought it was gonna end up being a not so good movie. Then I started to get into it and man. The acting in this movie was awesome, (Pitt is to this movie as Cruise is to Tropic Thunder) and I thought everyone knocked it out of the park.
I ended up liking it….I will say the end is a BIT like “No Country”…not a ton, but I think people may be able to see the similarity…
Anyway, if you’re expecting a balls-out comedy with this movie, you’re not gonna get it. There ARE a lot of laughs in it but they’re spread thin.
Anyway, good movie, not what I was expecting, but totally worth checking out.
I totally wanna see this this weekend!