Burn After Reading

[koolmoecraig]

New Coen Brothers movie.

I saw it last night.  Very good movie.  Not quite great but very good.

Definitely worth seeing in the theater.

[Ginsu Victim]

Dragged? Who gets DRAGGED to a Coen Bros movie?

My wife and I are going tomorrow night. We don't miss Coen Bros films....EVER.

(Except Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty, but those don't count as true Coen films...)

[AtomSmasher]

I've always been a big fan of the Coen brothers, but didn't care much for there last movie (I know I'm in the minority and you can do a search for the previous thread on the movie if you want to know why, but I don't want to go into the reasons again.)

This one looks like it's more in the realm of the Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona, so I've been looking forward to it ever since I saw the first trailer.  I'll definately be seeing it this weekend.

[koolmoecraig]

I've always been a big fan of the Coen brothers, but didn't care much for there last movie (I know I'm in the minority and you can do a search for the previous thread on the movie if you want to know why, but I don't want to go into the reasons again.)

This one looks like it's more in the realm of the Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona, so I've been looking forward to it ever since I saw the first trailer.  I'll definately be seeing it this weekend.

I'll see anything the Coen brothers and Charlie Kaufman do.

[Ginsu Victim]

Just got back from watching this.

Very polarizing film. There's no middle ground. You either love it or hate it.

Me, I loved it. It takes about 30 minutes to really pick up, but once it gets moving, it's great.

The ending sums up the film perfectly and left us laughing not just on the way to the car, but most of the way home.

8/10

[AtomSmasher]

I just got back from the theaters and it was good, but not great.

[AtomSmasher]

I just got back from the theaters and it was good, but not great.

Meh, you are old and boring.

  If you want to see examples of the Coen brothers at their best, then you should rent the Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona.  Those are great movies and Burn After Reading pales in comparison.  However if we're only comparing it to comedies released in the past year, then it is definately in the top 5 (top 2?), but then it doesn't have a whole lot of competition.

[Ginsu Victim]

If you want to see examples of the Coen brothers at their best, then you should rent the Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona

RENT?

I feel the entire Coen Bros catalog (minus Intolerable Cruelty and Ladykillers) should be owned by anyone who appreciates excellent film grammar. Watching movies that have passed through their filter is such a treat.

On their pure film grammar merits alone, these guys are in the upper echelon of filmmakers, right up there with Kubrick, Scorsese, Leone, and Kurosawa. Great company to be in.

(By "film grammar" I mean they have dictated a style that is so their own, you can see a film and instantly know who made it.)

[ChadTower]

So, I saw this last night.  What a stupid stupid movie.  I only laughed once, when you saw what George Clooney built, and that wasn't a "good joke" laugh it was a "wtf how does that belong in the movie" laugh.  I spent the whole rest of the movie wondering when it would be funny and then laughed at the credits because it was finally over.

I don't even see how this counts as comedy. 

[ark_ader]

So, I saw this last night.  What a stupid stupid movie.  I only laughed once, when you saw what George Clooney built, and that wasn't a "good joke" laugh it was a "wtf how does that belong in the movie" laugh.  I spent the whole rest of the movie wondering when it would be funny and then laughed at the credits because it was finally over.

I don't even see how this counts as comedy. 

I saw the movie and laughed.  It takes all kinds like the guy who first dated Linda Litzke.  He didn't laugh at the cinema, yet Clooney did.  I'm not drawing a parallel to you Chad with that guy, I'm sure you are more interesting than that boring guy. BUT in this case that scene is quite apt with regard to this thread.  Some people liked it, some didn't. 

[ChadTower]

That's my point... she dated two guys... one laughed at a joke and one did not.  That situation is not a joke, it's an observation.

Now that I think about it I did chuckle at what happened to Brad Pitt.  I was so tired of the characters by then that I was glad to see that happen to one of them.

[Ginsu Victim]

It's a Coen Bros movie, so it's not for everyone. You either love 'em or hate 'em.

I think Raising Arizona is one of the greatest movies ever made, but I'm sure there are some people who are like, "You actually LIKE that movie? Aw, I hate that movie!"

[HaRuMaN]

It's a Coen Bros movie, so it's not for everyone. You either love 'em or hate 'em.

I think Raising Arizona is one of the greatest movies ever made, but I'm sure there are some people who are like, "You actually LIKE that movie? Ah, I hate that movie!"

This is true.  Raising Arizona is one of my favorite films...  my wife think's I'm weird that I like it.   

[danny_galaga]

I just got back from the theaters and it was good, but not great.

i agree. not their best. saw this a couple of weeks ago with my housemate. i dispute that it is a polarising film. i think its worth a 3.5 out of 5

[patrickl]

Finally saw this one. Wasn't much impressed. I liked "No country for old men" better.

It wasn't a bad movie, but how is this comedy? Indeed at the end there finally are some funny bits (Pitt getting shot and the CIA chief "dealing" with the situation), but for most of the movie I was merely waiting for things to finally get going.

Or is it comedy that Pitt and Clooney were overacting so much?

[AllisterFiend]

I'm a big Coen brother fan myself, but I did not like Burn After Reading.  I laughed a couple times but other than that I was pretty bored through the whole movie.

BTW, reading this thread over the last few weeks put me in the mood to watch some older Coen brothers films. I watched Hudsucker Proxy the other day and I had forgotten how much I liked that movie (one the kids can actually watch!).   I also watched the Big Lebrowski and I don't think I'll ever get tired of that one, just a great movie (one the kids should not watch  ).   Raising Arizona is another favorite of mine.

Anyway, if anyone out there has not seen these movies, you should check them out.

Allister Fiend

[shardian]

I saw an animated gif the other day of Pitt's death scene. Pretty damn graphic!

If you don't like Brad Pitt, it is worth seeing this movie just for that scene.

[ChadTower]

I saw an animated gif the other day of Pitt's death scene. Pretty damn graphic!

If you don't like Brad Pitt, it is worth seeing this movie just for that scene.

I don't like Brad Pitt so that was the only part of the movie I laughed at. 

[shmokes]

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 his 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.

edit: pronoun trouble

[patrickl]

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.

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.

[ChadTower]

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.

THAT I fully agree with.   

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]

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.

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]

I deal with idiots like those all damn day. 

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]

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.

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!'