Burn After Reading

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Burn After Reading

R

2008

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

241 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), the two gym employees see a chance to make enough money for her to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo doofuses and those in their orbit.

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Critics Consensus

With Burn After Reading, the Coen Brothers have crafted another clever comedy/thriller with an outlandish plot and memorable characters.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

04/29/2019

Burn After Reading is a comedy that makes fun of almost everything, reminding you that almost none of it is laughing matter.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/23/2018

Although there are a couple of vaguely amusing moments, it fails as a comedy because it just isn't funny, and it fails as a thriller because it just isn't suspenseful and it fails as entertainment of any kind because it is all so ludicrously improbable.

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

10/29/2008

C+

It's morbidly absurdist, thoroughly pointless, and can certainly be funny at times.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

09/05/2023

3.5/4

In setting up a spy thriller that, given the idiocy of its characters, just-so-happens to proceed like a comedy, the Coens’ best humorist qualities emerge after years of slumber, now well-rested and ready to play.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

04/28/2021

4/5

The Coen Brothers [return] to their comedic-crime roots... with engaging and ebullient results.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

01/31/2021

2.5/5

I know I am about to commit film critic heresy, but I found the film's overly clever story left me cold.

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Clare B

@Clarejohn Jan 29

Cannot fault this movie. Every second is brilliant. The writing and acting are some of the best comedy in film. Classic lines abound. Every scene is a comedy masterpiece.

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theguywithawheel23

Jan 27

Coen brother's mid-life crisis/spy comedy will be an acquired taste for some, but for those willing to reveal in its uneventful nature, may find more under the surface than initially seen. It's also very funny, unconventional and one of their best films to date.

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Alain E

@AlainE Jan 3

Very funny and extremely cynical, this is a world where everyone cheats on everybody and the protagonists are distinguished by different levels of stupidity. Very good acting from many talented actors. Of course the present reality in Washington DC shows that things can always get worse.

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Leaburn O

Dec 16

Some funny goofy moments but these are roles played by good actors not good comic actors so things fall a bit flat at times. Watched on DVD.

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Zach J.

@Jenkins158 Dec 14

5/10

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Koy

@PlayingKoy Dec 11

Brad Pitt is carrying an entire star of this review. All the actors do a fine job, but really only the scenes with Pitt (and one funny line from Malkovich at the beginning) actually stick with me past an hour after watching it. I get the film is trying to subvert the spy/espionage genre, but you would think things would come together with some more...impact? If the point is that its not supposed to have any impact, then I am not sure why I am watching this. The Coen Brothers do great, and they have had films in the past where nothing REALLY happens yet manage to stick with you, the most obvious being The Big Lebowski. But this is really...nothing. I might as well watch a stoner movie, because that might be the best way to watch this film.

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Joel Coen

Director

Ethan Coen

Director

George Clooney

Harry Pfarrer

Frances McDormand

Linda Litzke

John Malkovich

Osborne Cox

Tilda Swinton

Katie Cox

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Synopsis

When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), the two gym employees see a chance to make enough money for her to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo doofuses and those in their orbit.

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Producer: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Relativity Media, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Focus Features
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Pervasive Language|Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.3M
Runtime: 1h 35m

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