Burn After Reading (2008)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

Ethan Coen
Joel Coen

Writers (WGA):

Joel Coen (written by) &
Ethan Coen (written by)

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Intelligence is relative.

Plot:

A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.

Plot Keywords:

Gym | Memoir | CIA | Divorce | CIA Agent

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 9 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 4	8:00 PM	HBO
Sun. July 5	12:20 AM	HBO

Cast

George Clooney	...	Harry Pfarrer
Frances McDormand	...	Linda Litzke
Brad Pitt	...	Chad Feldheimer
John Malkovich	...	Osbourne Cox
Tilda Swinton	...	Katie Cox
Richard Jenkins	...	Ted Treffon
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Sandy Pfarrer
David Rasche	...	CIA Officer
J.K. Simmons	...	CIA Superior
Olek Krupa	...	Krapotkin
Michael Countryman	...	Alan
Kevin Sussman	...	Tuchman Marsh Man
J.R. Horne	...	Divorce Lawyer
Hamilton Clancy	...	Peck
Armand Schultz	...	Olson

Also Known As:

Burn After Reading (France)
Quémese después de leerse (Argentina) (Mexico) (Peru) [es]
После прочтения сжечь (Russia) [ru]
Aramizda casus var (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Burn After Reading (Japan: English title) [en]
Burn After Reading - Wer verbrennt sich hier die Finger? (Germany) [de]
Burn after reading - A prova di spia (Italy) [it]
Destruir Depois de Ler (Portugal) [pt]
Kafto aporrito (Greece) [el]
Lire et détruire (Canada: French title) [fr]
Põletada peale lugemist (Estonia) [et]
Po prectení spalte (Czech Republic) [cs]
Queime depois de Ler (Brazil) [pt]
Quemar después de leer (Spain: Castilian title) [es]
Spaliti nakon citanja (Croatia) [hr]
Tajne przez poufne (Poland) [pl]

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA | UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44448) | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-13 | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Singapore:NC-16 (video rating) (heavily cut) | UK:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Japan:PG-12 | Czech Republic:15 | Peru:14 | France:U | South Korea:18 | Iceland:14 (video rating) | Iceland:16 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Bronx Community College - University Avenue at West 181 Street, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Mike Zoss Productions

Trivia:

The first Coen Brothers film not photographed by Roger Deakins since Miller's Crossing (1990). He was unavailable, having committed to shoot Revolutionary Road (2008).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Osborne returns home after being served for divorce, he tries to enter his home with a car key not a house key.

Quotes:

Osbourne Cox: [on phone] Tell Dr. Cox I have the new keys!
[Osbourne hangs up, and picks up a hatchet]

Movie Connections:

References "Seinfeld" (1990)

Soundtrack:

When The Saints Go Marhcing In

Very funny adult comedy

The point here is that this movie is for adults, with adult themes and adult situations. As with all Coen brother movies, there are going to be people who love it and people that hate it. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground. I loved this movie. It was entertaining, dark and very funny. I really liked "No Country for Old Men" but I have to say, "Burn After Reading" was a more enjoyable film for me. Some of the reviews here have said that the film rambles around pointlessly, without any clear direction; well I have to disagree, if you are paying attention and you are an adult, you should have no problem understanding what is going on. The best part of the movie is watching this great cast perform brilliantly with the odd-ball material they are given. They are all straight men for the Coen brother's antics. There is violence, bad language, and everyone is sleeping with everyone else, especially George Clooney. But the movie is very funny and while the rest of Hollywood seems to have lost there way, the Coen brothers continue to put out intelligent, entertaining and thought provoking material.