What Do The Critics Say?

"A dizzyingly enjoyable turn by the Coen Brothers that toys with espionage, adultery, blackmail and murder with a darkly comic edge. Ethan and Joel Coen seem to be totally in their comfort zone for this punchy, black film that defies categorisation, but guarantees a good time." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "The post-Oscar Coens whip up a screwball soufflé that only the perverse will ponder at length. Snappy, snarky and full of big stars being very, very silly. Just like Brad’s barnet, "Burn After Reading" has some outstanding comic highlights: many of them courtesy of Pitt himself. Loose-limbed and absent-minded, his hyper performance stays the right side of mannered." Sam Ashurst TOTAL FILM "The great strength of the Coen brothers is their scripts, and "Burn After Reading" is not only one of their most skilfully plotted films, it's also one of their wittiest." David Stratton ABC AT THE MOVIES "What is not to like about this film? The Coen Brothers are perhaps the most talented pair to come out of Hollywood ever. The cast is spot on, the comedy schtick is classic stuff and the who thing plays out like the ultimate exercise in exactly how to make a great movie." HEART 106.2 "Burn After Reading is a near-perfect example of what Joel and Ethan Coen excel at: taking genres of all kinds; noir thriller, action, whatever; and twisting them a la penis puppetry. Pitt you will not believe. The '80s hideous hair (with blond tufts), the earphones dancing. Like Clooney he's a natural fool. Burn is a refreshing blast of movie intelligence." Victor Olliver TELETEXT

"Maestros of time and place, the Coen brothers orchestra a convergence of incompetence, bad decisions and all-around silliness. The Coen brothers link their collection of flawed characters in such a way that everything falls into credible, disastrous disarray." John Wirt THE ADVOCATE "Had this screwball comedy been made in the 1930s, it might have starred the Marx Brothers, as each character is a comedic one-up of the next. The Coen's cast is perfect. CIA operatives, who really set the stage for the misfits, are typical non-nonsense agents but whose one-liners are hilarious. It’s Pitt who presents the craziest about-face here. There isn’t a moment on screen when the knucklehead Chad doesn’t bring a laugh, even when he’s threatening a CIA agent." Diana Saenger REVIEW EXPRESS "The cast couldn't be better. Clooney and Pitt are A-list morons, Malkovich is volcanically abusive, and Swinton, stiff with beady-eyed suspicion, is a perfect comic foil." Kurt Loder MTV "Burn After Reading bursts with wonderfully wacky intrigue. The film's dramatic music punctuates the story line with a goofy gusto. The very entertaining film is a sheer delight. And, it's smart enough not to overstay its welcome." Steve Rhodes INTERNET REVIEWS "This dream cast is to die for. Clooney and Pitt don’t get to share many scenes, a la their Oceans films, but both go for the jugular and get big laughs playing rather dumb. Pitt, in particular, hits just the right notes as a dopey fitness trainer. The Coens have done it again. Insanely funny." Pete Hammond HOLLYWOOD.COM

The Inside Story The fact that Burn After Reading follows last year’s "No Country for Old Men" in the Coens’ filmography speaks more to timing than to any storytelling avenue being pursued; although the characters in both suffer dire consequences, that has long been a constant in the Brothers’ films. "We actually wrote this script around the same time we were adapting No Country for Old Men," Joel said. "We came up with the idea thinking about different parts we wanted to write for actors that we know, who we thought might be fun to throw together; George Clooney, Richard Jenkins, Frances McDormand, and Brad Pitt, each of whom we know and all of whom we have worked with before, except for Brad. We thought about a mix of characters, and a story, that might be interesting to see these actors play," Ethan recalls. "Having worked with both George and Richard twice before, and at least four times with Fran, they are among the actors that inspire us to write characters for them," Joel enumerated. "Like Brad, John Malkovich is someone we hadn’t worked with before but have wanted to for some time. So we wrote John’s part specifically for him, which was a lot of fun to do." The characters in Burn After Reading are, as the Brothers Coens clarified, "knuckleheads, but not unlovable ones. We asked the actors to embrace their inner knucklehead." So what storyline did the incredibly talented Brothers Cohen come up with for "Burn After Reading"? "The story is about middle-aged people, all of whom are undergoing professional, personal, and sexual crises touching on matters of national security. That’s what makes it a Washington tale. The plot concerns the Central Intelligence Agency and the world of physical fitness, and what happens when those two worlds intersect and collide; Internet dating is also in the mix, Joel explained. So it's another comedy? "It’s a comedy, broadly speaking, and we’ve certainly done those before," says Ethan. "But the world of Washington, D.C., the world of spies and intrigue: that, we haven’t done before." "“Well, years and years ago, we did do an adaptation of "Advise and Consent" in Super 8," Joel revealed. "That’s the last time we tried taking on 'inside the Beltway' subject matter." "Despite the Washington setting, this picture is really about shockingly dumb people doing dumb things involving sex and other situations," says Clooney who was cast as Harry Pfarrer. "What makes it even more interesting is that they’re not politicians. As soon as they called me up, I knew I’d do it. What could be better? After all, it’s the Coen Brothers. They make roles available to you that people don’t know you’re capable of doing as an actor. Then they told me they wrote the part for me, which worried me." "As George gets older, our characters for George are getting older, and not wiser," Ethan notes. Can comparisons be made with other characters the 2006 Oscar ® winning Best Supporting Actor ("Syrianna") has played? "Harry’s not unlike the dopes I’ve played in my other films for the Coens. He’s this sort of sad, moronic character. But there’s a viciousness to this guy that doesn’t exist in, say, Everett in "O, Brother Where Art Thou?" This script made me howl when I read it. It’s so insane, I just went with it. I grew the beard they thought the character should have, and showed up to the set." 1997 Best Actress Oscar ® winner Frances McDormand ("Fargo"), who by the way married Joel in 1984, remembers the description for her character's first scene. "Close Up On A Woman’s Ass. Pale. Bare. Middle-Aged." "You know, I’ve been working with Joel and Ethan for the last 25 years," says three time Chicago Film Critics Association Award winner McDormand ("Mississippi Burning", "Fargo" & "Almost Famous"). "Their first movie (Blood Simple) was my first movie. I don’t know why they make me do what they make me do. But it’s always worth it." Four time Oscar ® winner Eathan Cohen ("Fargo" & "No Country for Old Men") revealed there are two sides to writing for McDormand. "It’s fun to write for Fran because you know she’s good. It’s not fun to show the script to her once it’s written, because she yells at you." 1996 Golden Globe winner Brad Pitt ("Twelve Monkeys") had been waiting a long time for a role in a Coen Brothers film, and at last the call came with the opportunity to play Chad Feldheimer. He too was in for a surprise! "I didn’t think the guy would be a dumbbell, a gum-chewing, Gatorade-swilling, iPod-addicted bubble-brain. I said to Joel and Ethan, '‘He’s such an idiot'. But, he does have a good heart." Did Pitt ("Mr & Mrs Smith" & "Se7en") see this as a career defining role? "Basically, I see the role as a career-buster." Clooney disagrees. His opinion is that Pitt will steal the show. And he does! "Brad grew to love playing a numbskull as much as George does, and he’s very funny in the role," Joel notes. McDormand recalls: "Brad was doing some things in our scenes together which made it very hard not for me to crack up." Like Pitt, Cognac Festival du Film Policier winner John Malkovich ("Jennifer Eight") had been hoping to work with the Coens for years. "When they called and told me they’d written a role for me, well, I was delighted. The whole script centers on people’s quests to change themselves." How does he describe his character Osbourne Cox? "Ozzie is a sarcastic man, and an unbelievable lush. When he gets canned, it throws him into a tizzy, and he writes his memoirs: very badly." Cox’s wife Katie is played by 2008 Oscar ® winning actress Tilda Swinton ("Michael Clayton"). "I have great lines, like 'Stop the foolishness!' Katie feels she’s surrounded by bungling fools; she’s angry about everything, disappointed in her husband and disappointed in life." Another charcter who suffers great disappointment is Hardbodies Gym owner Ted Treffon played by the easily recognizable 2008 Moscow International Film Festival's Silver St George winner, Richard Jenkins ("The Visitor"). His character "is described as 'soulful'. He’s desperately in love with Frances’ character, Linda. But she only thinks of him as a friend. I had previously made two other movies with Frances ("North Country" & "The Man Who Wasn't There") neither of which we had any scenes together in. I finally got to actually work with her, and she’s as good as you think she is." Making "Burn After Reading" with these in demand actors, meant scheduling became a key issue. That's why "No Country for Old Men" went before the cameras first. "Everything was contingent on the availability of this cast," says four time Oscar ® winnner and two time BAFTA winning Best Director, Joel Cohen ("Fargo" & "No Country for Old Men"). "We found that sweet spot in terms of their calendars, so that dictated when we would shoot," Ethan said. The Coens signed a two-picture pact with Focus Features and long-time collaborators, Working Title Films. Working Titles co-chairmen Tim Bevan and Eric Feller had previously worked with the Cohen's on: "Fargo", "The Hudsucker Proxy", "The Big Lebowski", "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and, "The Man Who Wasn’t There". Focus president of production and 1996 Artios Award winner John Lyons also had a long association with the Brothers Cohen. Lyons ("Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" & "Lorenzo's Oil") had previously collaborated as casting director on their films "Raising Arizona", "Miller’s Crossing", "Barton Fink", "The Hudsucker Proxy", "Fargo", and "The Big Lebowski". With the ensemble, the production company, and the studio in place, the Coens convened another group of regular collaborators, all of whom had just worked with them on "No Country for Old Men": costume designer Mary Zophres; 1992 Oscar ® winning set decorator Nancy Haigh (Bugsy"); 1989 EMMY award winning makeup artist Jean Black ("Lonesome Dove"); 2006 BAFTA winning sound mixer Peter Kurland ("Walk The Line"); and script supervisor Tom Johnston ("The Horse Whisperer", "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" & "Far from Heaven"). "These are people who are so good at what they do. They’re up for anything on our movies. We’ve been lucky enough to assemble a team of the best people working in these areas", Joel notes. 2008 Excellence in Production Design Award winning Production designer Jess Gonchor ("No Country for Old Men"), a more recent addition to the team, was joined by the Coen's longtime composer, 1998, 2000 and '03 ASCAP Award winner Carter Burwell ("Conspiracy Theory", "The General's Daughter" & "The Rookie") and two first-time collaborators; hair stylist Lyn Quiyou ("Dr T and the Women", "Autumn in New York", "The Mothman Prophecies", "Unfaithful", "Chicago", "Shall We Dance" & "The Hoax") and three time Silver Ariel Mejor Fotografía Award winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki ("Como agua para chocolate", "Miroslava" & "Ambar"). A decision was made at the outset that, although several exteriors for "Burn After Reading" would be shot on location in Washington, D.C., where the story takes place, the majority of the action would be filmed in the New York area. One major factor in the decision was that the Coens wanted to remain close to home and their families; another was that Clooney was working on another project in and around New York. Principal photography on "Burn After Reading" began on location in Manhattan, in a downtown law firm which stood in for the D.C. offices of Katie Cox’s lawyer. Although the cast drew considerable paparazzi attention wherever filming was transpiring, the process went smoothly: as is the norm on a Coens shoot. "They give an actor responsibility; they know what they want, but they also want you to bring something to the role," Jenkins ("Sea of Love" & "Shall We Dance") said. As filmmakers, Joel and Ethan are so prepared; they meticulously plan out, and it’s all to the actors benefit," McDormand ("The Butcher's Wife" & "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day") adds. "We don’t have to wait for them to make decisions." "They tend to work out things while they’re writing, so that by the time they get to the shoot, they’re in concert. "Burn After Reading", to me, has a classic Coens feel to it," 2004 ("Young Adam") and 2008 ("Michael Clayton") BAFTA winner Swinton offered. "The shoot was so seamless and familial; a wonderful place to be, with their rhythm of working." 'First of all, the Coens know how to make movies. Secondly, they are not control freaks," says 1986 EMMY Award winner ("Death of a Salesman") John Malkovich. "They let actors work, but they pay attention and retain an openness. It’s all a boon for an actor. You can really get into your characterisation." "Their style is just the easiest," adds Clooney. "They have a very specific plan. I have yet to see them do any rehearsal on anything." Synopsis

CIA analyst Osborne Cox has been called to a top-secret meeting. Unfortunately he is being ousted. Cox does not take the news well. He resigns, returns to his Georgetown home to work on his memoirs and his drinking, not necessarily in that order. His wife Katie is not surprised; she is already well into an illicit affair with Harry, a married federal marshal, and sets about making plans to leave Cox for Harry. A world away in the burbs of Washington, D.C.s, Hardbodies Fitness Centre's employee Linda can barely concentrate on her work. She is consumed with her life plan for extensive cosmetic surgery, and confides her mission to can-do colleague Chad. Linda is all but oblivious to the fact that the gym’s manager Ted pines for her, despite Linda's obsession with internet dating. When a CD containing highly damaging material for Cox’s memoirs accidentally falls into the hands of Linda and Chad, the duo are intent on exploiting their find. All they want is a reward. That's not about to happen. Nothing will go to plan.

The Verdict "Hot on the heels of their hugely acclaimed, quadruple Oscar ® winning "No Country for Old Men" (Best Directing, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor) comes this wickedly, totally sick comedy from the Coen Brothers, "Burn After Reading". A devilishly good script and equally matched casting, makes this a film to die for: die laughing that is! Clooney is sensational as is Malkovich, Richard Jenkins and J.K. Simmons ("Spider-Man"). But wait, there's more. The real star is the unlikliest of cast members: Brad Pitt. His turn as the totally naïve, out of his depth, Chad, steals the show. Let's hope there's more good 'out of left field roles' waiting for him. Not to be overlooked are the accomplished performances from Oscar ® winners, Tilda Swinton and of course, Franic McDormand. Swinto is the perfact balance for the characters Clooney (in his third collaboration with the Cohen's after "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" & "Intolerable Cruelty") and Malkovich play. I'm sure there are many who, having seen the film, will want to rush back and see it again, not because they are self-indulgent, but because "Burn After Reading" is the sort of film that would appear to be even funnier the second time around. It's grass roots Cohen brothers at their best. Put it in your diary and then pencil a big round circle around "Burn After Reading". It's the goofiest dead-set fun you'll have. Highly recommended. 4 1/2 STARS." Crew Bytes "BURN AFTER READING" was .......
directed by Ethan Coen ["Miller's Crossing", "Barton Fink" and "The Hudsucker Proxy"] and Joel Coen ["Blood Simple", "Barton Fink" and "The Ladykillers"]; set decoration by Nancy Haigh ["Field of Dreams", "Road to Perdition" and "Dreamgirls"]; art direction by David Swayze ["Baby Mama"]; costume design by Mary Zophres ["Catch Me If You Can", "The Lady Killers" and "The Terminal"]; production design by Jess Gonchor ["The Wake-up Caller", "Five Minutes, Mr. Welles" and "Baby Mama"]; director of photography 1993 Havana Film Festival Award winner Emmanuel Lubezki ["Miroslava", "Sleepy Hollow" and "Y tu mamá también"]; original music by 1998 LAFCA Award winner Carter Burwell ["The Chamber", "Gods and Monsters" and "Adaptation"]. Who's Who

George Clooney Frances McDormand John Malkovich Tilda Swinton Brad Pitt Richard Jenkins David Rasche J.K. Simmons Olek Krupa Michael Countryman Kevin Sussman J.R. Horne Hamilton Clancy Armand Schultz Pun Bandhu Jeffrey DeMunn Raul Aranas Judy Frank Sándor Técsy Yury Tsykun Brian O'Neill

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Harry Linda Osbourne Cox Katie Chad Ted CIA Officer CIA Superior Krapotkin Alan Divorce Lawyer Divorce Lawyer Peck Olson Doug Magruder Cosmetic Surgeon Manolo Lawyer's Secretary Russian Embassy Escort Senior Russian Embassy Man Hal

Run Time 96 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2008 - Focus Features - All Rights Reserved ©2008 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian, International, Copyright & Trademark Laws.