RE: Burn After Reading

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RE: Burn After Reading - 12/1/2009 12:12:29 AM

hammerfan

Posts: 6
Joined: 5/11/2005

I saw this film recently and can't help but feel that it's another case of the film-makers name being more important that the film itself. The Coen Brothers have made some excellent films in the past (Big Lebowski, No Country) but this really wasn't up to the quality of these. If this had been made by any other director it would have been rated at 2/5 at best. I honestly feel the only reason it got 4/5 by Empire was because of the Coen name. It wasn't kooky, funny or anything even remotely approaching humorous. The only fun point was provided by J. K. Simmons. For me this was the only part of the film even close to the normal Coen Brothers style. Where "Oh Brother" was fun and refreshing this was just laboured and forced. It was more like an ITV sitcom than a film by the supposedly most interesting film-makers in Hollywood. Very disappointing. 2/5 but only because of J. K. Simmons

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Post #: 61

Funnier than no country for old men - 25/1/2009 8:00:37 AM

THE DALTONATOR

Posts: 80
Joined: 17/2/2008

this film had a killer cast and was incredibly funny sure the story was all over the place but that was the whole point and it was great wacky fun and the best comedy of 2008.

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Post #: 62

Pretty good - 4/2/2009 12:03:35 PM

SonnyDaze

Posts: 34
Joined: 16/6/2008
From: Southampton

Not sure this was quite as good as I thought it would be. Yeah Brad Pitt's performance is quite funny, but him, Frances McDormand and George Clooney seemed to be a little over the top. Maybe that's the point, but sometimes subtle is funnier. Thought John Malkovich was brilliant again, loved the three-way phone conversation, and I loved the end summation from the CIA big cheese...

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Post #: 63

RE: Pretty good - 11/2/2009 9:15:39 AM

MOTH

Posts: 3171
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: Sittin' on the dock of the bay

A passable effort from the Coens, slickly put together, but lacking the wit and heart of their other comedy-thrillers. It's never less than entertaining, with Brad Pitt and JK Simmons providing the most amusing moments, but in the end it all feels a bit lightweight (6/10)

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Post #: 64

RE: Pretty good - 12/2/2009 10:13:38 PM

Jackie Boy

Posts: 1129
Joined: 2/1/2006

I thought it was absolutely hilarious in places but seriously what the hell was happening? I've never been so lost & confused during a movie in my entire life.

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Post #: 65

RE: Burn After Reading - 13/2/2009 12:03:59 AM

Dark Avenger

Posts: 45
Joined: 6/1/2009

I found it really disappointing. Just not as funny as it needed to be, with the performances being amusing at best before becoming incredibly tiresome, with Brad Pitt being the only real standout. The idea at its center is quite nice and amusing, but it's lost amid all those pointless and unfunny sub plots.

Give me the Coens darker, more serious stuff over their screwball comedies any day.

2/5

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Post #: 66

Disappointing, Only Pitt Is Funny. - 16/2/2009 2:25:00 PM

joanna likes films

Posts: 987
Joined: 27/10/2007
From: Bexhill

Me and my sister wanted to see this as the trailer showed promise to be funny and slightly odd with Brad Pitt once again being a twat and totally over the top. We watched last night only to be disappointed and frustated by the stupid plot. There is something there going on, a disk of John Malkovich's work goes missing and ends up on Pitt and Frances Mcdormand's laps, they take it to the Russian Embracy to get money out of it while George Clooney has a affair with not only on Tilda Swinton but on McDormand too! It's way over the top and didn't really explain itself a lot, too much was going on and it grew very boring quickly when someone shockily dies along with the comdey. Only Brad Pitt was funny, he makes me laugh as Chad, his facial expressions and his funny dance moves are genius. Everyone else annoyed me, I wanted them really dead and gone but that didn't happen. It was seriously disappointing and as for that ending, that's taking the biscuit! Even my sister didn't get it so I'm not alone! In all, only Pitt was the best thing of this film and as for the rest well not great.

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Post #: 67

Pitt is only good thing - 17/2/2009 12:01:36 PM

672matt

Posts: 2
Joined: 17/2/2009

Not funny at all, laughed once i think, coen brothers are going downhill

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Post #: 68

RE: Burn After Reading - 18/2/2009 5:46:27 PM

MathewRed

Posts: 708
Joined: 10/2/2006

Considering the Coens made 'No Country..' and then this is a true indication of just how talented they are. Perfect casting, especially in Tilda Swinton and Pitt. The well-written script is full of dark humor and some shocking laugh-out-loud moments as well as some more violent surprises. The multi-layered script is slightly confusing at times but it all comes together brilliant in the 3rd act. Also, the CIA are hilarious.

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Post #: 69

RE: Burn After Reading - 11/3/2009 2:58:04 PM

st3veebee

Posts: 2354
Joined: 3/9/2006
From: 9303 Lyon Drive

An incredible dissapointment imo. I love the Coen Bros, especially when they go into the wacky character genre so I went into this expecting a great laugh. Not one big laugh I can think of, although there were some decent bits, these were all found in the trailer. In no way do I mean this is an awful film or even a bad one, just a bland wasted opportunity

SPOILERS>>>>>

The Good: Frances McDormand is always entertaining even though she coasts through this film. Same goes for Malkovich and J. K Simmons (hugely underused here). Pitt and Clooney are both fine just given little to work with. Pitt dying was quite unexpected and oddly humourous (his face)

The bad: The Ending. The fact that you sit there waiting and waiting and waiting for that great scene when all this talent comes together.....and it never even comes close. Tilda Swinton is wasted in a 2D bitchy english female part that could have easily been played by a voice mesage machine.

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Post #: 70

Ignored Gem - 6/6/2009 3:42:50 PM

MovieAddict247

Posts: 3359
Joined: 5/6/2009

Its no No Country, but its brilliant. Completely surreal, treating light subjects darkly and vice versa, but I loved it. Brad Pit was awesome, and it completely changed my opinion of him as an actor. The cast is strong, and the script is too. It didn't get the recognition it deserved, in my opinion.

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Post #: 71

What's the point? - 3/9/2009 11:45:26 AM

gritslipper

Posts: 6
Joined: 3/9/2009

When I sat down to watch this film, I thought that it would be an easy watch with some laughs, but instead I found myself trying to laugh but there was nothing to laugh at. Sure Brad Pitt's character sometimes makes you laugh to yourself, but thats all there is. It's one of those really stupid films that tricks you into thinking that there is something clever behind it, but when you look at it for what it is, it's just a bunch of boring characters doing stupid things, with the most predictable things happening... well, except for the ending, I could've never predicted that the ending would be that bad.

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Post #: 72

Decent but one of the Coens' worst - 3/1/2010 12:08:38 PM

Kieran94

Posts: 68
Joined: 30/12/2009

One of those films that make you smile, but never laugh. It's clever, engaging and the actors were perfectly cast but lacks the quirky spark of the Coen's best efforts. Watchable, but quite disappointing considering their otherwsie brilliance.

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Post #: 73

Exceptional Tragi-comedy - 22/3/2010 7:23:47 AM

monkeyhumour

Posts: 254
Joined: 12/2/2006

It's about stupid self-serving people with too much power, in a world of lies
It's about a case of a coming and going of nothing really heppening at all
Some see the humour and genuis in this and others don't like that kind of thing
And as for attacks from people who say the tonal shifts are too big, the violence ruins the jokes. Well in life it doesn't stay on one tone, so films shouldn't have to stay on that as well

I'll adore it forever.....to bad there's not enough love for it

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Post #: 74

Very good comedy - if you can appreciate it - 7/4/2010 12:54:58 PM

djphilips

Posts: 104
Joined: 26/12/2008
From: Malta

Many traditional people will not enjoy this film as its humour is very modern and rather dark. Most movie-goers think Chevy Chase and Steve Martin when the word comedy comes to mind, which is why this film won't quite deliver when it comes to laughs to certain audiences. The cast is perfect and totally at home with the screenplay.
Don't be fooled by the four star rating. If you like your films traditional and find modern comedy (such as Catch-22) offputting, then steer clear.

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Post #: 75

A well constructed film - 9/5/2010 6:59:38 PM

sanchia

Posts: 16704
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Norwich

It is indeed a well constructed film with a n intricate plot. That said it is a film filled with dislikable character, those whom are slightly sympathetic usually are the ones who suffer the most. The plot is typically convoluted as usual for these writers/directors. I have to admit I am uncertain of if I like it or not. It is not a spectacular film and didn't draw me in, as a comedy, even a black one, it didn't really work and at the end of the film I wasn't glad that I had watched it just ambivilent.

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Post #: 76

- 28/3/2011 12:40:03 AM

Bubba76

Posts: 205
Joined: 30/9/2005

Awesome, funny film :-D

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Post #: 77

wonderful madness! - 19/8/2011 4:42:38 AM

SHANEIZOID

Posts: 10
Joined: 14/12/2007

ok, so the coans have run this race before but my my are they brilliant at it... This is a very very funny film. One of the funniest in so many years. Completely zany, mad & a million miles a minute. If you just go with it, you will certainly be rewarded, I haven't laughted out loud watching a film so much since the farrelly's went mia...! I just adore how crap they all are at their jobs, particularly the spooks, who are like the anti-bourne brigade. Also take note of doctor Swindon's great bedside manner! Overall wonderful stuff, the acting is a thing of tic filled beauty.

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Post #: 78

Burn After Reading Review - 26/2/2012 11:01:38 PM

the film man

Posts: 598
Joined: 13/10/2010

With Burn After Reading, The Coen Brothers have crafted another clever comedy/thriller with an outlandish plot and memorable characters.

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Post #: 79

Burn After Reading Review - 26/2/2012 11:01:39 PM

the film man

Posts: 598
Joined: 13/10/2010

With Burn After Reading, The Coen Brothers have crafted another clever comedy/thriller with an outlandish plot and memorable characters.

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Post #: 80

"Appearances can be... deceptive." - 20/12/2012 1:29:53 AM

movienut707

Posts: 63
Joined: 19/10/2012

When the Coen's go for all-out comedy, the results are typically hilarious, and Burn After Reading is no exception. From George Clooney's paranoid sex-addict to Brad Pitt's dimwitted workout fanatic, this is hysterical, shameless comedy all the way through... or is it?

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Post #: 81