Storyline
When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst falls into the hands of Linda Litzke and Chad Feldheimer, 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.
Directors
Cast
J.K. Simmons, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, Jeffrey DeMunn, Richard Jenkins, Frances McDormand, Kevin Sussman, Dermot Mulroney, RJ Konner, Carmen M. Herlihy, Bob Bowersox, Tilda Swinton, Crystal Bock, Lori Hammel, Tim Miller, Elizabeth Marvel, Olek Krupa, Patrick Michael Strange, J.R. Horne, James Thomas Bligh, Matt Cannon, David Rasche, Robert Prescott, Michael Countryman, Pun Bandhu, Kimberly Dorsey, Hamilton Clancy, Armand Schultz, Karla Mosley, Richard Poe, Raul Aranas, Judy Frank, Sándor Técsy, Yury Tsykun, Brian O'Neill, Matt Walton, Patrick Boll, Logan Kulick, Robert R. Barry, Ted Bouton, Oliver Buckingham, Michael Fawcett, William Fowle, Charles Gemmill, Mitch Giannunzio, Cliff Goulet, William D. Grey, Gary Henderson, Ron Kidd, Bill Massof, Brian McKeon, Ken McNeill, Jay Parks, Roger Rathburn, Eric Richardson, Bart Wilder, Stephen Ananicz, Liam Ferguson, Matthew James Gulbranson, Douglas Nelson, Lil Rhee, Kevin Tan, Jacqueline Wright
Trailer
Reviews
80
Newsweek
That's the paradox that makes this parade of folly so much fun: it feels as if everyone involved is having a high old time, and their enthusiasm is contagious.
75
This is a thriller with a high quotient of comedic elements or, if you prefer, a comedy with a high quotient of thriller elements. As is always the case with a production of Joel & Ethan, it's difficult to classify, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.
70
Joel and Ethan Coen clearly are in a prankish mood, knocking out a minor piece of silliness with all the trappings of an A-list studio movie.
70
Village Voice
The Coens return to familiar territory with the parody thriller Burn After Reading, a characteristically supercilious and crisply shot clown show filled with cartoon perfs and predicated on extravagant stupidity.
67
Burn After Reading, the new film from the Coen Brothers, won't be mistaken for "Fargo" anytime soon. Or "Barton Fink," or "The Man Who Wasn' There." Those films were black comedy done to perfection.
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