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Burn After Reading (2008) 7.0
Ratings:
7.0/10 from 168,077 users
Metascore: 63/100
Reviews: 518 user | 321 critic | 37 from Metacritic.com A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it. |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| George Clooney | ... | ||
| Frances McDormand | ... | ||
| Brad Pitt | ... | ||
| John Malkovich | ... | ||
| Tilda Swinton | ... | ||
| Richard Jenkins | ... | ||
| Elizabeth Marvel | ... | ||
| David Rasche | ... | ||
| J.K. Simmons | ... |
CIA Superior
(as JK Simmons)
|
|
| Olek Krupa | ... | ||
| Michael Countryman | ... | ||
| Kevin Sussman | ... | ||
 |
J.R. Horne | ... |
Divorce Lawyer
(as JR Horne)
|
| Hamilton Clancy | ... | ||
| Armand Schultz | ... | ||
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Osbourne Cox, a Balkan expert, is fired at the CIA, so he begins a memoir. His wife wants a divorce and expects her lover, Harry, a philandering State Department marshal, to leave his wife. A diskette falls out of a gym bag at a Georgetown fitness center. Two employees there try to turn it into cash: Linda, who wants money for elective surgery, and Chad, an amiable goof. Information on the disc leads them to Osbourne who rejects their sales pitch; then they visit the Russian embassy. To sweeten the pot, they decide they need more of Osbourne's secrets. Meanwhile, Linda's boss likes her, and Harry's wife leaves for a book tour. All roads lead to Osbourne's house. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Taglines:
Intelligence is only their job. See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
12 September 2008 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Quémese después de leerse See more »Filming Locations:
Bronx Community College - University Avenue at West 181 Street, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA See more »Box Office
Budget:
$37,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
£2,045,565 (UK) (17 October 2008)Gross:
$60,338,891 (USA) (19 December 2008)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The Coen Brothers wrote the character Osborne Cox with John Malkovich in mind. Brad Pitt's character was also written with the actor in mind, inspired by a commercial for which he suffered a similar haircut and dye job. Indeed, the Coen Brothers noted at a Q&A session at the Venice Film Festival that all the leading characters were written for all the leading actors, with the exception of Tilda Swinton. See more »Goofs
In the scene where Osbourne Cox receives his notice of insufficient funds, when he looks at the paper, it clearly says "We recently we received..." Clearly whoever typed up the paper was torn between using the word 'recently' or 'received', and, after deciding on one of them, forgot to remove the other. See more »Quotes
Chad Feldheimer: [on the phone] Osbourne Cox? I thought you might be worried... about the security... of your shit.See more »
This film will not be to everyones taste, and I wholly understand the polarised responses.A star studded cast enjoy a knowing, wordy script, where dialogue counts, a Coen brothers trademark.However not very much happens, and the narrative is disjointed, so the pace of the story is very staccato.But once again the result is something very wide of the Hollywood mainstream and is all the more satisfying for it.
A 95 minute running time,, and several separate but interwoven plots, mean that screen time for individual actors is limited. Consequently each shines in their given roles, relishing the word play and eking the maximum out of each situation.No scene is dwelled upon, and the occasional bloody outburst of violence, or titillating appearance of a Sybian machine , is shown then moved on from before you have time to work out exactly what is going on.
The script is littered with double entendres, "running gags (pun intended)and lines aimed straight at the audience from the screen. No-one knows what is going on, or what has gone on, or what is going to happen, and is all the better for it.A mini-masterpiece.