BURN AFTER READING

UNIVERSAL

RELEASED 17 October 2008

After the Oscar-winning 'No Country for Old Men' comes the usual about-face from the Coen brothers. It's back to comedy as gym workers Chad (Brad Pitt) and Linda (Frances McDormand) attempt to blackmail an ex-CIA agent Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) after he drops a CD containing seemingly important information in the gym. In fact, it's data to do with Osbourne's memoirs he's writing, which might explain why the Russian embassy aren't interested, much to the surprise of Chad and Linda. In another part of Washington lives Harry (George Clooney) and Sandy (Elizabeth Marvel). Harry is sleeping with Osbourne's wife Katie (Tilda Swinton), and pretty much anyone else he can get his hands on. Harry is also building a contraption in his basement that can only be described as a rocking chair for women only. I'll say no more, other than it's a very funny sight to behold.

Funny and efficient at only ninety-five minutes long, 'Burn After Reading' is another cracking Coens movie. The cast really are the stars of this movie, so much so it's hard to choose between them. But Brad Pitt, in his first Coens outing, definitely gets the most laughs as the fitness freak who just can't keep still. Frances McDormand is also fantastic, marking this as her twenty-fifth year working with the Coen brothers. Swinton continues her rise up the Hollywood food chain, and Malkovich bawls and drolls as only he can. Sadly, I have to say I really like George Clooney as a serious actor but I honestly don't think he's really cut out for screwball comedy like this. Out of everyone, he looks a bit out of his depth.

The script is just as sharp as you'd expect from Joel and Ethan. A few of my favourite lines were Osbourne shouting at one of his fellow agents, 'I have a drinking problem? You're a mormon, next to you we all have a drinking problem!' and from a random character working out in the gym, 'something snapped in my ass!'

'Burn After Reading' has been described by Ethan Coen as like the 'Bourne' movies only with no explosions. Perhaps a bit misleading as I don't remember too many bumbling comedy characters in the 'Bourne' movies either, but you can see where he's coming from. This could have involved characters in a range of professions really, but it just so happens we're in Washington so we get the CIA.

THREE OUT OF FIVE