Burn After Reading (2008)

The Coen brothers strike again. Their newest film, Burn After Reading, is a black comedy following former CIA analyst Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) and the oversexed (George Clooney), inept (Brad Pitt), self-centered (Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton), or simply confused (J.K. Simmons, David Rasche) people thrust into the intrigue after he writes down his memoirs on his PC.

The star-studded cast does not disappoint. Standout performances by Malkovich, Clooney, Pitt, McDormand, and Swinton are funny and heartbreaking as they (poorly) attempt to find what they want, even as "they're all sleeping with each other." The classic Coen brothers elements are all present in this movie: Poorly-executed subterfuge, the juxtaposition of placing horrific violence in humorous situations, and an elaborate plot with many twists that ends up resulting in no real changes for the characters which survive. I'm sorry to give that last part away, but fans of Coen brothers movies already knew that someone would likely die and that there would be no progress or grand lesson learned.

Overall, the movie does a good job of poking fun at its characters, its plot, its writers/directors, and even its audience without failing to entertain. It presented a thoroughly entertaining storyline and a wide variety of characters, all of which remained eminently recognizable. I see this as a return to form for the Coen brothers that will likely draw more critical acclaim than their films from earlier this decade--after O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) the Coens failed to wow critics with either Intolerable Cruelty (2003) or The Ladykillers (2004).

I heartily recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys black comedies, and particularly those with a lot going on at once. If you love the Coens' previous work, you'll love this one.