Films/DVD Asylum

Burn After Reading

4.161.237.1

PhilJ

I love the Coen Brothers and most of the actors in this film but could not get into it. The main characters are so stupid or just plain ugly (on the inside - which is usually not a problem for me) that I did not enjoy this comedy. If there was a redeeming point to it all it would have been better. It is so lighthearted and frivolous (sp) that there was nothing to keep me from thinking about how much better it could have been, I did not see the humor and there certainly was no suspense. The final scene when someone sums up everything that happened in the movie is funny but way too late.

Bottom line is the movie is well made and goes by quick enough but I recommend you pass it up.

thanks

Phil

Follow Ups:

First-rate entertainment. Hey, you can't expect "Fargo" each outing, can you? - tinear 20:38:06 09/15/08 (4)
Coen regulars McDormand and Clooney are fantastic, as are most of the ensemble. The film is clever, funny as hell (many audience members laughed aloud with me throughout the film), and well-edited.
Go for an enjoyable film, which delivers its message quite painlessly, and you'll like it.
Pitt, against obvious type, is good as a dorky fitness guy. Malco is over the top as many drunks are, especially one that has been shit-canned (I'd expect).
Swinton is vile, stepping outside of her cold-as-ice film persona.
- Agreed - funny, silly but entertaining...(nt) - mkuller 11:42:50 09/22/08 (0)
  (nt)
- No one mentioned Fargo but this is not even close to - PhilJ 04:55:02 09/16/08 (2)
  Raising Arizona, O' Brother or Big Lebowski as far as entertainment value. I laughed once at the end. Of course it has a certain amount of polish and craftsmanship but did not tweak my funny bone.
  
  thanks
  
  Phil
  - BAR is going to reward repeat viewings - Jazz Inmate 20:49:42 09/22/08 (0)
    I don't think anyone can appreciate the real genius of a film like BAR on first viewing. It is far better than Raising Arizona.
    -------------
    Call it, friendo.
  - SPOILER ALERT ALERT ALERT - tinear 19:28:35 09/16/08 (0)
    Wait a minute.... you didn't laugh at Pitt's shenanigans? At the Clooney contraption?
    There were about ten other funny-as-hell moments, too.
    I think this film shouldn't necessarily be compared to regular comedy, anyway. It was more of a satire on our new "security."
I agree; neither my wife nor I were impressed by this Coen Brother's film. - Audiophilander 15:32:08 09/15/08 (3)
In fact, we were more than a little disappointed given the expectations.
Oddly, the character which worked best for us was the Brad Pitt character, because he played the clueless surfer-dude guy in a charming "Darwin Award" kind of way. Unfortunately, perceiving Pitt's character as the most interesting in this film is its fatal flaw. His death took away the only really likable character in the movie for us.
In spite of the obvious ironies and 'comedy of errors' there were very few laughs in Burn After Reading. Most of the actors didn't 'sell' their characters very well, which I've concluded wasn't so much the fault of the actors (in this instance) as the casting (some of the actors were just unbelievable in the roles as cast).
AuPh

Edits: 09/15/08
- You really should give a *Spoilers warning. nt - sjb 15:47:22 09/15/08 (2)
  .
  
  "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy�.I was able to get a sense of his soul." -- George W. Bush on Vladimir Putin
  - Sorry, but if you're saved a disappointing trip to the cinema, then, as Monk would say: You'll thank me later! - Audiophilander 10:38:38 09/16/08 (1)
    ;O)
    - Control yourself - Jazz Inmate 20:51:31 09/22/08 (0)
      This is just one more thing in a remarkably long procession that you're wrong about, and what you think about a movie is certainly no cause for you to ruin it for others.
      -------------
      Call it, friendo.
to clarify - PhilJ 12:51:35 09/14/08 (2)
I think the movie is well made and acted but to me the characters are so unbearably stupid it is painful to watch or believe. It moves along quickly enough but I just had my hopes up high because a good Coen bros movie is special to me and this movie is not...

thanks

Phil
- RE: "...to me the characters are so unbearably stupid it is painful to watch or believe." - geoffkait 13:47:56 09/14/08 (1)
  Uh, isn't that sort of the Coen Bros' trademark?
  - I see your point - PhilJ 16:10:01 09/14/08 (0)
    maybe it is just a little overdone this time, or maybe the movie just has less charm than O'Brother for instance.
    
    thanks
    
    Phil
Amusing but Pitt annoying, McDormand annoying, Malkie over the top, ..... - mr grits 18:30:39 09/13/08 (5)
Clooney irritating, Swinton grating,but Mr Hardbodies,Rasche and the other CIA guy pitch perfect.
- Loved the CIA director - Road Warrior 13:17:26 09/14/08 (2)
  Damn he had easy solutions for problems
  
  Overall very enjoyable, nice to see the big stars obviously having a great time. *** out of ****
  
  FWIW, had to hit assholio in front of me on his shoulder and tell him to turn off his fucking blackberry, had the damn thing on the whole time thru the first ten minutes scolling thru shit. A few cuss words later it was off and stayed off..
  
  "Poor People have been voting for Democrats for the last 50 years.......and they are still poor."
  
  So sayeth Charles Barkley
  - It's a good thing I don't own a gun..... - mr grits 17:17:05 09/14/08 (1)
    Flipping phones open to see who just called or left an email drives me insane. The worst is a bluetoother with it blinking on his ear. The usher are to chicken shit to say anything here. Grrrr.
    - This guy wasn't flipping, had it open the whole time! ^ - Road Warrior 06:47:08 09/15/08 (0)
      "Poor People have been voting for Democrats for the last 50 years.......and they are still poor."
      
      So sayeth Charles Barkley
- RE: Amusing but Pitt annoying, McDormand annoying, Malkie over the top, ..... - DavidLD 12:55:49 09/14/08 (1)
  Actually the character I liked the best was Swinton's divorce lawyer
  The others were SUPPOSED to be annoying
  - Agreed! He was superbolous......sounded like a televangelist of sorts. * - mr grits 17:18:02 09/14/08 (0)
    .
RE: Burn After Reading--I loved it too! - DavidLD 17:03:05 09/13/08 (0)
What a cast!
After seeing a dozen so-so movies, I wonder why I am at the theater every weekend..then one like this comes along and I suddenly remember why I love the movies so much.
I thought it was quite funny and Pitt did a nice job. - Wendell Narrod 07:57:33 09/13/08 (0)
.
-Wendell
Pitt looks pathetic in the ads. He's a poor actor. nt. - WinthorpeIII 05:06:03 09/13/08 (4)
nt.
- In Pitt's defence, he plays a dim-wit in BAR. nt - geoffkait 07:56:31 09/13/08 (3)
  nt
  - BAR? - PhilJ 18:05:22 09/13/08 (2)
    acronym for what?
    
    thanks
    
    Phil
    - RE: BAR? = Burn After Reading (nt) - townsend 20:49:49 09/13/08 (1)
      .
      - DUH - PhilJ 10:28:20 09/14/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: BAR? = Burn After Reading (nt) posted by townsend on September 13, 2008 at 20:49:49
        
        sorry, for some reason I automatically presmed it was a different movie. I am under the weather so that is my excuse....
        
        thanks
        
        Phil

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