Well I'm a huge Coen Brother fan and I think their movies are brilliant; sure there are some that excel over others as they just made one of the best films of their careers, No Country For Old Men, its only fitting that they yet again try so hard to make fools of themselves, and their characters. Now before you read this review just remember; its called burn after reading for a reason, this movie is about nothing. Absolutely Nothing.
The Brother's start the film off with a satellite spy camera shot going down into a government building in Langley Virg. called the CIA and we sit in on a meeting that has someone telling a character called Osbourne Cox that he is fired simply because he loves alcohol. In one seen, the opening one, the Coen Brother's manage to poke fun at the government, mormons, CIA employees, and the United States of America, and they do it all with idiotic characters that only know the F-word. This is the tone of this movie, a fun story, and really dumb characters doing really dumb things, this movie is hilarious.
The acting is so shockingly funny as each actor excels in their jobs so well; I would even say that Clooney should've been nominated for his role, everyone was brilliant in this movie. The real actor who shines though is Brad Pitt playing a dumb body builder character named Chad who only wants to help his friend get plastic surgery by blackmailing someone with a dumb memoir written when he was drunk and angry at the world by taking it to the Russian embassy; this is how insanely absurd this plot is. The Coen Brother's are also making a comment about infidelity because each character is cheating on their spouse with each other; maybe they are saying that only really dumb people fall into this trap? or maybe their commenting on how unhealthy this is and how common it is in our culture?
This movie has great twists and a stellar climax that a lot of people will hate but I loved it simply because this movie really tries to just tell a story where nothing happens because the characters are simply to dumb to know how to make the story roll. The writing in this movie is so outlandish and filled with such vulgar language but they make the characters using this language sound so stupid. Is Pitt states that he found and secured the S***; he repeats this over and over again, you can't help but laugh. This movie is funny with great direction, funny dialogue, an insane plot, and an outlandish outcome, this is a true Coen Brother movie, as they make a funny movie that lightly dances around heavy topics. A movie that has two characters talking about the story and stating that nothing is happening is truly different and special. This made me chuckle because this movie is boasting about its lack of plot. Its amazing.
Well if your looking for something intelligent and filled with themes and narrative, please pass this one by, but if your looking to have fun making fun of some truly bizarre characters look no further, you'll either love this movie, or you'll be so offended you won't know what to do, but whatever you do, please Burn After Reading.
