With such iconic films as Fargo and No Country for Old Men to their credit, writer/directors Joel and Ethan Cohen have little left to prove. However, like true veteran filmmakers, the real-life brothers have decided to try their hand at another genre "“ comedy. Enlisting the help of George Clooney, Francis McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Brad Pitt, the guys have created Burn After Reading, a quirky, innovative and fresh-faced film that is bound to entertain and please the masses.
While the film features a rock-solid cast of Academy recognized talent, it is the story and direction that helps to set it apart from so many others. Instead of the usual over-done attempts to mix drama and laughs, the Cohen brothers decided to play it simple and feature a strong story that is smart, classy and fun.
From the onset, it becomes quite clear that this film was going to be different. Though set in the present time, Burn After Reading contains a historic feel as the scenes lack bright colors and tend to play towards the late 50s or early 60s. But the feel wasn't the only thing that made this film unique as both the story and its characters helped to capture your attention, taking you on a ninety minute adventure unlike any other.
Taking place in DC, the film proves that no information is too small when it comes to plastic surgery and the CIA. Linda (McDormand) has been longing for four separate operations that will transform her body into that of a goddess. But when her insurance company turns her down, she realizes that her dream body will stay envisioned in her head. However, when she and Chad (Pitt) stumble across a disc of coded messages, they can think of only one thing "“ blackmail. But like always, things don't work out as planned as the disc proves to belong to Osborne Cox (Malkovich), who has just separated from his wife, Katie (Swinton), who is having an affair with Harry (Clooney) who is also having another affair with body-dreamer Linda. And to make matters worse, none of them know that each knows the other, setting off a chain of events that is both dramatic and downright hilarious.
In addition, Joel and Ethan Cohen do a brilliant job at bringing the best out of the star-studded cast, transforming them into their respective character and allowing them to each form a bond with the other. While all are never in the same scene, most scenes feature a slew of outstanding talent, and the way that the brothers are able to juggle the spotlight, allowing each actor to be the focus when the time is right, it simply amazing.
Ultimately, the film was high on expectation and delivered perfectly. From the mundane and sardonic tone to the classic feel and historic look, the film has it all, not to mention its slew of A-list stars. Together, the group of factors meshes together flawlessly, forming a pleasant treat for moviegoers who are looking for nothing more than a good time.
