Burn After Reading [Movie Review]

The Coen brothers' Burn After Reading captured the top slot at the box office this weekend, and garnered mostly positive reviews. Ten years after Lebowski success, Equipped with an all-star cast and a big name directing duo, the film had high expectations to live up to.

The plot is simple--yet complicated. A host of characters are brought together when an ousted CIA analyst's memoirs are intercepted by a pair of gym employees. The film's tone is part comedic-part satirical thriller.

Like The Big Lebowski, the story unfolds as a product of a series of misunderstandings. The plot itself is a loosely connected sequence of events that come together in a neat package in the film's conclusion.

But, from Clooney to Malkovich, the characters are what really make this film shine.

Brad Pitt is a scene-stealing moron with a bad hairdo, exercise obsession and a healthy affinity for his iPod and earbuds, delivering only one of the stellar performances this film has to offer. Who knew Pitt could be so funny?

Frances McDormand lights up the screen as well, as a desperate woman looking for romance and financial assistance for a series of cosmetic surgeries.

Though its filled with laugh-out-loud moments, a few in particular caused the theater to erupt into a chorus of never ending chuckles.

Ambiguity in the plot line may cause the average audience member to feel like they may have missed something, but it seems the Coens meant it this way. And its hard to achieve perfect cohesion in such an ensemble cast. After all, Burn After Reading is a delightful journey into the lives of "a league of morons."

I think, just maybe, The Dude would approve.

*A-