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Burn After Reading Image

Burn After Reading

Release Date:
63
Metascore
 37 reviews
6.7
User Score
 433 ratings

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Director: Ethan Coen Joel Coen
Writer: Ethan Coen Joel Coen
Production: Relativity Media
Movie Details: An ousted CIA official's memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees intent
An ousted CIA official's memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees intent on exploiting their find. (Focus Features)
Genre(s): Drama Comedy Crime
MPAA Rating: R
Production: Relativity Media
Runtime: 96 min
Home Release Date: Dec 16, 2008
Countries: USA UK France
Language: English
Director: Ethan Coen Joel Coen
Writer: Ethan Coen Joel Coen
Starring:
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Critic Reviews
(37)
63
Metascore Generally favorable reviews
25 Positive Ratings 67%
11 Mixed Ratings 29%
1 Negative Ratings 2%
Based on 37 Critic Reviews View All
100
Chicago Reader
J.R. Jones
"After the portentous "No Country for Old Men," Joel and Ethan Coen return to their trademark brand of cruel, misanthropic farce, and for dark laughs and hurtling narrative momentum this spy caper is their best work since "Fargo."" ... Read full review
80
Newsweek
David Ansen
"That's the paradox that makes this parade of folly so much fun: it feels as if everyone involved is having a high old time, and their enthusiasm is contagious." ... Read full review
75
Rolling Stone
Peter Travers
"It would be no country for movie lovers without the Coens. They still manage to run unmuzzled while the rest of Hollywood runs scared." ... Read full review
70
The Hollywood Reporter
Kirk Honeycutt
"Joel and Ethan Coen clearly are in a prankish mood, knocking out a minor piece of silliness with all the trappings of an A-list studio movie." ... Read full review
63
New York Post
Kyle Smith
"The film has enough funny lines and weird situations - some comedy business with a sex chair lovingly constructed by the Clooney character is the highlight - that it could age into a cult film like "The Big Lebowski."" ... Read full review
50
New York Magazine (Vulture)
David Edelstein
"Burn After Reading is untranscendent, a little tired, the first Coen brothers picture on autopilot. In the words of the CIA superior, it’s "no biggie."" ... Read full review
30
Time
Richard Corliss
"Either the Coens failed, or I didn't figure out what they're attempting. I must be like Harry or Osborne, pretending to a sophistication I lack. Burn After Reading is a movie about stupidity that left me feeling stupid." ... Read full review
Critic Reviews
User Reviews
(172)
6.7
User Score Generally favorable reviews
274 Positive Ratings 63%
94 Mixed Ratings 21%
65 Negative Ratings 15%
Based on 433 Ratings and 172 Reviews View All
10
StevenF
Feb 4, 2013
It's deadpan comedy at its best, and who better to deliver it than Joel and Ethan Cohen, along with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, FrancesIt's deadpan comedy at its best, and who better to deliver it than Joel and Ethan Cohen, along with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand and the fantastic John Malkovich.
When a disc containing some of the CIAs most revealing secrets goes missing, it ends up in the gym of the most bumbling, simple minded individuals, who attempt blackmail but get in too far over their heads.
Its an approach at showing just how overreacting individuals can be, but also just how bland or too seriously many Hollywood movies take themselves surrounding this incident, basically a parody.
Its a very well written dark comedy with brilliant performances, particularly Brad Pitt as an extremely camp gym worker, and retied CIA analyst John Malkovich.
It has this large ensemble cast that go to extreme length to mock and amaze through sheer stupidity, all for our amusement, and they certainly do not fail.… Expand
10
Batmanrocks!h.
Aug 27, 2008
A Great Movie! I didin't expect anything because the Coen's last movie had a terrible ending and it was slow and overall pointless A Great Movie! I didin't expect anything because the Coen's last movie had a terrible ending and it was slow and overall pointless and very very very very overrated getting 4 Oscars including Best Picture. Like whats wrong with the academy. They don't give fargo Best Picture but they give No Country for Old men best Picture? That's a sin!!! But this movie by itself was truly shocking. I LOVED IT! It's cherishing, personally. It's a great black comedy that exceeds to the standard of Fargo. It's actually better than Fargo. Anyway, go see it. It's better than the dark knight. Like, thats phenomenal!!!… Expand
9
PeterK.
Sep 28, 2008
Darkly funny. One of the best things that the Cohens have done since Raising Arizona.
7
Palino007
May 2, 2011
Initially, you're trying to guess "What's going on here", but as the film progresses, you will start to get the point, and from that moment,Initially, you're trying to guess "What's going on here", but as the film progresses, you will start to get the point, and from that moment, you'll be smiling till the end.… Expand
5
avatar16
Feb 7, 2012
Il était presque difficile de croire que les frères Coen nous livre une comédie après leIl était presque difficile de croire que les frères Coen nous livre une comédie après le sublime No Country For Old Men. Encore plus étonnant, que ce nouveau film n'ait pas le caractère mordant propre aux réalisateurs. Enfin, si... si l'on décortique à fond cette comédie. Mais il faut bien l'avouer : ce qui ne sont pas habitués à ce genre d'univers ne peuvent pas entièrement accrocher à ce genre d'humour, prenant l'ensemble pour un simple film quelque peu monotone. Mais il faut bien reconnaître que la plupart des quiproquos se montrent jouissifs et que les comédiens se laissent aller (Brad Pitt, exceptionnel!). Bref, une sympathique farce noir qui manque tout de même de mordant.… Expand
4
WalterE.
Sep 11, 2008
Burns After Peeing
0
LaurenE.
Sep 12, 2008
Stupid movie, about stupid people.
User Reviews