If there is a center theme to “Burn After Reading”, to me, that would be idiocy. There is no hero, only idiots. And that is exactly what the award winning director-writer duo Joel and Ethan Coen wanted it to be, I reckon.
Knowing that I will be heading for an overseas business trip in Malaysia, I spent the last few days trying to do as much as I can in Singapore. I can’t live without Singapore, I really can’t. Not entirely the country as per se, but all these dependencies I have built over the years. Gosh, I will even miss my über computer where I spend much time blogging with. And so, before I head north, I caught up with my Movie Review Squad.
There are so many big stars in “Burn After Reading”. I am such a big fan of John Malkovich. I especially enjoy his acting in “Being John Malkovich (1999)”. But he looks quite old in this film. OK, he is old. 54, he is. I really wish to see him taking home an Oscar one day.
Then there is the old partners George Clooney and Tilda Swinton. They didn’t get along in “Michael Clayton (2007)”, they didn’t get along in “Burn After Reading” either. Both are such talented actors. While George Clooney is not exactly the guy I used to love watching in this film – a bit too jittering to my liking – I bet you have not seen this side of a Brad Pitt at all. Who is this Brad Pitt?! Borderline childish, borderline uncool, and totally an idiot.
I can relate 100% on how the filmmakers depict a typical working environment, and that is not even funny. Gosh, when was the last time I witness something outrageously intelligent at work? Hmmm. If I may pick a few favorite scenes from “Burn After Reading”, I simply love to watch the conversations between an official played by David Rasche and his director (J. K. Simmons) inside the the CIA’s headquarters. The director’s comments are so random in situations of life and death. J. K. Simmons’s acting makes me laugh out loud, and I want more. He gives me ideas to reply to a common asked question in the corporate world: what is our lesson learnt?
Not necessarily the most entertaining film of the year. But if you do like to watch dark comedy and in love with watching some of the stars on big screen, “Burn After Reading” is a good option.
8 replies on “Starstruck by Burn After Reading – How Much You Can Tolerate Idiocy?”
I’m going to watch this!! Because of George Clooney. hehe…
ECL – Ha ha ha … Yes, George Clooney is charming. Always be.
Didn’t Brad Pitt first come to light for his protrayal of an idiotic druggie in ‘True Romance’?
CSC – Personally, I think there is a difference between acting stoned (hence doing stupid things) and acting naturally stupid.
I guess his recently more memorable stories (at least to me) is nothing of that sort. Still, a pleasant to watch.
I’d watch it perhaps only on the account it’s made by the Cohen brothers, though Brad Pitt fits in so terribly nicely with his outstanding, I’m neutral towards him.
To full enjoy it, I believe we must watch it without the preconceptualized imprints of the usual Hollywood movies, because it was not played according to the rules in the first place.
Well as you might have guessed, I’m one of those who read reviews before watching a movie. What a spoiler huh?
Ghim Seng – Ha ha ha … OK. I too scan through some reviews before making a decision to part my hard earn money! I guess not all reviews are written with spoilers. I hope mine don’t (that much *gasp*)!
Yeah Wilfrid, it’s an art to write reviews w/o spoilers.
Ghim Seng – Ha ha ha, agreed … And I am still practicing hard. Maybe one day I will get there.