Main > Everything Else
Burn After Reading
ChadTower:
--- Quote from: patrickl on January 15, 2009, 11:10:31 am ---Well I noticed all those "little" details too, but I wasn't really impressed that much. The whole thing reminded me of "Me and you and everyone we know". It's like the only redeeming quality they went for was the "WTF was that" effect.
--- End quote ---
THAT I fully agree with. ;D
I deal with idiots like those all damn day. It's not funny because I can't get away from those people. That's why it was funny watching what happened to Pitt.
Ginsu Victim:
--- Quote from: shmokes on January 15, 2009, 10:55:00 am ---WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
I think the whole movie is darkly funny. John Malkovich's character having graduated from Ivy league and refusing to admit to himself that he's just not that important. When he starts recording his memoirs like they're something anybody could ever possibly give a ---Cleveland steamer--- about . . . and his stupid, pompous, self-important voice and manerisms while he did it. Francis McDormand's motivation through the whole movie, even after all of her friends were killed thanks to her. The misplaced sympathy you had for George Clooney's wife, only to find that she was cheating on him all along and about to leave him for her lover. That both Clooney's wife and her lover deluded themselves into thinking that they were pleasant while the other was a cold ---smurf---.
I didn't think George Clooney's invention was especially funny. It was Francis McDormand's reaction to it that was ---smurfing--- hilarious.
And the CIA director . . . ---smurfing--- hilarious. His raison d'etre was to avoid having to do anything. Not just himself, but the entire agency. Do everything possible to be able to do nothing.
So much more. I think it's a very detail oriented movie that could easily be ruined by the company with whom you watch the movie, or the mood you are in when you watch it. A lot of the comedy and insight is in small details, easy to miss. Worth another watch if you liked it, cos you'll likely grow to love it. If you can bring yourself to it, it's probably worth another watch if you didn't like it, but I'm not really sure I'm THAT persuasive.
--- End quote ---
Glad you liked it. The whole film is summed up in the closing scene and by the title itself.
I loved it. I could see what the Coens were going for the whole time. Other than The Ladykillers (which I haven't seen), I've loved everything they've done.
shmokes:
--- Quote from: ChadTower on January 15, 2009, 01:32:06 pm ---I deal with idiots like those all damn day.
--- End quote ---
At risk of sounding pretentious, that's exactly what makes the movie so poignant -- and largely what differentiates it from the utterly pointless and unwatchable You, Me and Everyone We Know.
hypernova:
--- Quote ---I kinda like Cloony and Pitt acting as caricatures though. Not sure if they were trying to come across like clowns or that they intended something more serious and their overacting killed it.
--- End quote ---
They weren't overacting, I believe. That seems like the way those characters were written.
The first 30 minutes or so were dull, but I realize that was to develop the characters more than anything. The rest of the movie was downright hilarious, with the CIA guy being the best.
shmokes, I think you're right on. Bit of a darkness to this comedy.
danny_galaga:
i would have to agree that the CIA chief was a brilliant part. the way the problems presented themselves to him as just a few annoyances at the office. you could imagine him going home to tell the wife about these little niggles
'how was your day, dear?'
'oh, a couple of guys got killed that we needn't have known about. we got rid of the bodies anyway, just to be sure. whats for dinner? im famished!'
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[*] Previous page
Go to full version