Burn after watching
Tyler Gilliam
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Features
If you saw the previews for Burn After Reading, you probably thought, "Wow, that looks kind of funny. I wonder what it's about." Let me tell you, I saw it and I left the theatre thinking, "Wow, that was kind of funny. What was it about?"
The Cohen brothers' (The Big Lebowski, Fargo) latest project came out of the opposite end of the spectrum from their 2007 Academy Award-winning film No Country For Old Men.
Burn After Reading is described as a spy comedy of sorts. And even though it showcased some spy stuff and was funny on occasion, it's still a bit of a stretch to describe it as a "spy comedy." Don't think Austin Powers. Think awkward, overdeveloped and void of plot.
Its central character, or at least the only character tying together the loose remnants of what should have been a plot, is ex-CIA analyst Osbourne Cox, played by John Malkovich (Con Air, Being John Malkovich). At the start of the film, Cox leaves his job at the CIA after being demoted because of his drinking problem. Unbeknownst to Cox, he's also about to go through a divorce and a lot more hassle.
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton, The Chronicles of Narnia) plays Cox's wife, Katie. She is involved with another man and is filing for divorce. At the urging of her attorney, she copies Osbourne's personal files off the computer and brings a copy to the lawyer. This is where the situation gets sticky.
The attorney's secretary loses the disk at the local gym. Gym employees Linda Litzkeand and Chad Feldheimerfind find the disk. Chad, played by Brad Pitt (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Oceans Trilogy), believes the disk contains some government secrets. Linda, played by Frances McDormand (North Country, Almost Famous), is trying to rake in money for cosmetic surgery and sees their find as an opportunity to make some cash. Let the blackmail commence.
Meanwhile, Linda has been using an online dating service. She comes across Harry Pfarrer, played by George Clooney (Michael Clayton, Oceans Trilogy). She and Harry hit it off, but Linda is not Harry's only woman.
The Cohen brothers' (The Big Lebowski, Fargo) latest project came out of the opposite end of the spectrum from their 2007 Academy Award-winning film No Country For Old Men.
Burn After Reading is described as a spy comedy of sorts. And even though it showcased some spy stuff and was funny on occasion, it's still a bit of a stretch to describe it as a "spy comedy." Don't think Austin Powers. Think awkward, overdeveloped and void of plot.
Its central character, or at least the only character tying together the loose remnants of what should have been a plot, is ex-CIA analyst Osbourne Cox, played by John Malkovich (Con Air, Being John Malkovich). At the start of the film, Cox leaves his job at the CIA after being demoted because of his drinking problem. Unbeknownst to Cox, he's also about to go through a divorce and a lot more hassle.
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton, The Chronicles of Narnia) plays Cox's wife, Katie. She is involved with another man and is filing for divorce. At the urging of her attorney, she copies Osbourne's personal files off the computer and brings a copy to the lawyer. This is where the situation gets sticky.
The attorney's secretary loses the disk at the local gym. Gym employees Linda Litzkeand and Chad Feldheimerfind find the disk. Chad, played by Brad Pitt (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Oceans Trilogy), believes the disk contains some government secrets. Linda, played by Frances McDormand (North Country, Almost Famous), is trying to rake in money for cosmetic surgery and sees their find as an opportunity to make some cash. Let the blackmail commence.
Meanwhile, Linda has been using an online dating service. She comes across Harry Pfarrer, played by George Clooney (Michael Clayton, Oceans Trilogy). She and Harry hit it off, but Linda is not Harry's only woman.
