Season 1: Burn After Reading (2008)

A disk containing mysterious information from a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous and daft gym employees who attempt to sell it.

Jess' Review

I’m a huge fan of the Coen brothers and had wanted to revisit Burn After Reading (2008) for a while, after having watched it to death back in the day. Whilst not my favourite from the director-writers’ impressive catalogue, it’s certainly up there and provides a healthy dose of their trademark dark, satirical comedy.

In a word, Burn After Reading is quick. The pacing is quick, the runtime is quick, and the dialogue is, in typical Coen-fashion, quick, too. It’s snappy in every sense of the word and I love it for it. So often these days we're dragged down by 3 hour plus slogs trying to impart the audience with a pretentious, deeper meaning; or alternatively, simply opting to get lost in advanced visuals, mindless action sequences or endless filler beneath the glitzy facade of their A-list star. (And don’t get me wrong, sometimes I get wrapped up in these kinds of gimmicky films myself.) But truly, for me, there is an art to telling a concise story. And here, we have a film that is entertaining, engaging, generous with its delightfully deplorable characters, and all wrapped up in a neat 96 minutes. Chefs kiss.

Burn After Reading is filled with a cast of exceptional acting greats, all of which breathe life expertly into their delightfully eccentric roles. Arguably, John Malkovich’s Osbourne Cox takes centre stage as our lead, but truly this is an ensemble film where each character gets their moment to shine. I adore a character study, and even in this delivery of bite-sized chunks, it’s effective and leaves me fully satiated. No one is set aside, no one is neglected and left vying for screen time: it’s a masterclass in balance.

With such a bountiful cast, one would worry that the plot might get lost. And yet, the various storylines interweave faultlessly and with a fluidity that seems to come so naturally to the Coens. And of course the dialogue is wonderful; sharp and biting with the likes of Tilda Swinton’s vicious Katie Cox, and also utterly endearing when it comes to Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand - who, for me, perhaps steal the show. It’s a brilliantly funny script, comical and witty without being obnoxious. Whilst I’ve no doubt Sam will find flaws with realism here, I would (naturally) disagree with him. The kookiness works. It’s fun. And really, that’s what I’m here for.

8.5/10

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Sam's Review

When Jess forced me to watch The Big Lebowski (1998) a couple of years ago, I was blown away. Upon hearing her choice of film, again directed by the critically acclaimed Joel and Ethan Coen, how could my expectations not be high? And as the film begins with an understated but intriguing first scene, I’m struck by two thoughts. Firstly, this is going to be good. Secondly, John Malkovich is such a unique actor. He dignifies the subdued erratic nature of Osbourne Cox, potentially alcoholic CIA analyst.

Witty, snappy dialogue, that also perfectly represents the individual traits of each character, seem to be typical of a Coen brothers’ script. When paired with possibly the most talented ensemble cast to grace cinema, it’s a joy to watch. Then a slight doubt enters my mind. Is the transition from scene to scene jarring? Abruptly they seem to cut from one to the next. Great for pace, but the flow seems off. And yet. How radiant is Brad Pitt? His puppy dog charm is turned up to the maximum, and it’s contagious. My mood brightens every time he is on screen. Another finicky thought: is this meant to be funny? The dark comedy grates with satire, causing the tone of the film to feel conflicted. Truly, I want this to be good. Yet, it begins to feel silly. I can’t help but wonder if certain moments had been played straight, would the impact be heightened? The stupidity of the characters irritates me, making it impossible to suspend disbelief. Yes, it’s a comedy, but it should still be grounded in realism. While Linda (McDormand) is ditzy, she knows what she wants, and is struggling to find happiness. You feel for her. Aren’t we all just trying our best? But that dissipates as the film goes on. Most characters go past nuanced flaws into morally inept, selfish, and/or stupid. Though praise should be heaped onto the acting skills of the cast. Phenomenal. J.K. Simmons - and his piercing blue eyes - steals the film. The few scenes he shares with David Rasche as they attempt to decipher what is going on are scintillating. Rasche’s explanation and Simmons’ brash confusion are truly a delight. Though as the film abruptly ends – bizarrely little actually happening - Simmons bemusedly asks, “What did we learn?” Just like him, I have no idea.

5/10