Quick Review: Burn After Reading

After watching the latest Coen brothers’ film, Burn After Reading, it’s time once again to acknowledge their genius. Their ability to switch genres has defined their career and here they succeed again as they follow up No Country for Old Men with a screwball comedy mixed with a spy thriller. The results are typical Coen, as you get a movie that sticks with you long after the credits role. While it lacks the LPM (laughs per minute) of Tropic Thunder, Burn scores as a comedy. The ensemble cast all shine but the performance of Brad Pitt deserves special recognition. I’ve never seen Pitt play so much physical comedy and the results are memorable. His bumbling trainer kicks the film into high gear. Tilda Swinton and George Clooney turn in great performances that almost spoof the roles they’re famous for. I for one couldn’t help but see their roles from Michael Clayton as they interacted here. JK Simmons nearly steals the show as a CIA bureaucrat and John Malkovich yells a lot and frankly, that’s when he’s at his best. The Coens once again find new and beautiful ways to visually tell a story (special note of the bedroom scene with Swinton and Malkovich early on). The film does have a few slow bits especially early on but the final act speeds by and before you know it you’re left gasping and grasping. The Coens throw the best curves at the audience and just when you think they’ll zig they throw someone in a wood chipper.