Burn After Reading (2008)

Directors:

Ethan Coen
Joel Coen

Writers (WGA):

Joel Coen (written by) &
Ethan Coen (written by)

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Intelligence is relative.

Plot:

A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.

Plot Keywords:

Gym | CIA | Memoir | Divorce | Embassy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

George Clooney	...	Harry Pfarrer
Frances McDormand	...	Linda Litzke
Brad Pitt	...	Chad Feldheimer
John Malkovich	...	Osborne Cox
Tilda Swinton	...	Katie Cox
Richard Jenkins	...	Ted
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Sandy Pfarrer
David Rasche	...	CIA Officer
J.K. Simmons	...	CIA Superior (as JK Simmons)
Olek Krupa	...	Krapotkin
Michael Countryman	...	Alan
Kevin Sussman	...	Tuchman Marsh Man
J.R. Horne	...	Divorce Lawyer (as JR Horne)
Hamilton Clancy	...	Peck
Armand Schultz	...	Olson
Pun Bandhu	...	Party Guest
Karla Mosley	...	Party Guest
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Cosmetic Surgeon
Richard Poe	...	Stretching Gym Patron
Carmen M. Herlihy	...	Prospective Gym Customer
Raul Aranas	...	Manolo (as Raul Arañas)
Judy Frank	...	Lawyer's Secretary
Sándor Técsy	...	Russian Embassy Escort (as Sandor Tecsy)
Yury Tsykun	...	Senior Russian Embassy Man
Brian O'Neill	...	Hal
Robert Prescott	...	Process Server
Matt Walton	...	Morning Show Host
Lori Hammel	...	Morning Show Hostess
Crystal Bock	...	PR Woman
Patrick Boll	...	Sandy's Man
Logan Kulick	...	Four-Year-Old Patient
Dermot Mulroney	...	Star of "Coming Up Daisy"
Robert R. Barry	...	Drunken Princetonian
Ted Bouton	...	Drunken Princetonian
Bob Bowersox	...	Drunken Princetonian
Oliver Buckingham	...	Drunken Princetonian
Michael Fawcett	...	Drunken Princetonian
William Fowle	...	Drunken Princetonian
Charles Gemmill	...	Drunken Princetonian
Mitch Giannunzio	...	Drunken Princetonian
Cliff Goulet	...	Drunken Princetonian
William D. Grey	...	Drunken Princetonian
Gary Henderson	...	Drunken Princetonian
Ron Kidd	...	Drunken Princetonian
Bill Massof	...	Drunken Princetonian
Brian McKeon	...	Drunken Princetonian
Ken McNeill	...	Drunken Princetonian
Tim Miller	...	Drunken Princetonian
Jay Parks	...	Drunken Princetonian
Roger Rathburn	...	Drunken Princetonian
Eric Richardson	...	Drunken Princetonian
Bart Wilder	...	Drunken Princetonian
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephen Ananicz	...	Gym Guy (uncredited)
James Thomas Bligh	...	Lt. Macdonald (uncredited)
Matt Cannon	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Justin Doescher	...	Suspicious Man (uncredited)
Kimberly Dorsey	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Liam Ferguson	...	Businessman (uncredited)
Matthew James Gulbranson	...	Midwestern Tourist (uncredited)
Joe Jagatic	...	CIA Agent (uncredited)
Richard Karn	...	Himself - Family Feud Host (archive footage) (uncredited)
RJ Konner	...	Senator (uncredited)
T. Alloy Langenfeld	...	Nam Vet Visiting WWII Memorial (uncredited)
Douglas Nelson	...	Man in Park (uncredited)
Lil Rhee	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Devin Rumer	...	Surveillance Man (uncredited)
Patrick Michael Strange	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Kevin Tan	...	Suspicious Tourist - Day Player (uncredited)
Jacqueline Wright	...	Monica (uncredited)

Directed by
Ethan Coen
Joel Coen

Writing credits (WGA)
Joel Coen		(written by) &
Ethan Coen		(written by)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	executive producer
Ethan Coen	....	producer
Joel Coen	....	producer
David Diliberto	....	associate producer
Eric Fellner	....	executive producer
Robert Graf	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Emmanuel Lubezki		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ethan Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)
Joel Coen

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth

Production Design by
Jess Gonchor

Art Direction by
David Swayze

Set Decoration by
Nancy Haigh

Costume Design by
Mary Zophres

Makeup Department
Eileen Barrett	....	additional hair stylist: Washington, DC
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup department head (as Jean A. Black)
Barbara Lacy	....	additional makeup artist: Washington, DC
Lyndell Quiyou	....	department head hair stylist (as Lyn Quiyou)
Patricia Regan	....	key makeup artist
Sonia Rivera	....	key hair stylist
Waldo Sanchez	....	hair stylist: Mr. Clooney
Sherri Bramlett	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Jane Choi	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Karen Ruth Getchell	....	unit supervisor: Washington DC
Robert Graf	....	unit production manager
Neri Kyle Tannenbaum	....	unit production manager
Michelle Wright	....	executive in charge of post-production: Working Title

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bac DeLorme	....	second assistant director
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director (as Elizabeth Magruder)
Michelle McGrier	....	dga trainee
John Silvestri	....	second second assistant director
Kurt Uebersax	....	second second assistant director: Washington D.C.
Ronan O'Connor	....	second assistant director: additional photography (uncredited)

Art Department
J. Todd Anderson	....	graphite operator
JoAnn Atwood	....	set dresser (as Joann Atwood)
Anthony Baldasare	....	prop assistant
Steve Brennan	....	on-set dresser
Kenny Burke	....	construction grip (as Ken Burke)
Diana Burton	....	property master
Carolyn Cartwright	....	assistant set decorator
Rebecca Castle	....	scenic: Washington, DC
Carl Catanese	....	set dresser: Washington, DC
Eric Cheripka	....	prop assistant
Frank Didio	....	key construction foreman
Robert DiGrigoli	....	foreman (as Robert Digrigoli)
Gregory Dressel	....	construction grip (as Greg Dressel)
Steven T. Duke	....	set dresser (as Steve Duke)
Alex Gorodetsky	....	charge scenic
Roman Greller	....	set dresser
Vincent Guarriello	....	key construction grip
Jay Hendrickx	....	camera scenic
Gregory Hill	....	graphic designer
Deborah Jensen	....	assistant art director
Ana Lombardo	....	assistant property master
Jeffrey D. McDonald	....	assistant art director (as Jeffrey McDonald)
David Meade	....	construction production assistant
Rebecca Meis DeMarco	....	set decoration buyer (as Becca Demarco)
Timothy Metzger	....	lead dresser (as Tim Metzger)
Suzanne Mjartan	....	set dresser
Mike Montgomery	....	key construction grip (as Michael Montgomery)
Beth Morris	....	props assistant: Washington, DC
Leann Murphy	....	art department coordinator
Quang Nguyen	....	scenic foreman
Tobin Ost	....	assistant art director (as Tobin Obst)
Joseph S. Patire	....	shop craftsman
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator (as Ronald Petagna)
Ronnie Petagna	....	foreman (as Ronnie A. Petagna)
Daniel Rosenfeld	....	shop scenic
Moza Saracho	....	art department production assistant
Sha-Sha Shiau	....	set decorating coordinator
Stephen G. Shifflette	....	set dresser: Washington, DC (as Steve Shifflette)
Nithya Shrinivasan	....	assistant art director
Paul Steinberg	....	shop electric
Joe Taglairino	....	set dresser (as Joe Tag)
Paul Weathered	....	set dressing foreman
Michael Acevedo	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Glen Aldous	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Robert Antalocy	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Terri Brennan	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Gabu Camilo	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Lou Charles	....	set dresser (uncredited)
James Donahue	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Joshua Higgason	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Luke Malloy	....	greensman (uncredited)
Victor Morales	....	scenic (uncredited)
John Ralbovsky	....	scenic (uncredited)
Jeffrey Rollins	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Steve Rosenzweig	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Andrew Rossig	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Amy Safhay	....	lead greensperson (uncredited)
Dylan Sheridan	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Marcia C. Suter	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Christopher Weiser	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Craig Berkey	....	sound designer
Craig Berkey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Laurel Bridges	....	boom operator
Johnna Chism	....	assistant sound editor
Joel Dougherty	....	first assistant sound editor
Catherine Harper	....	foley artist
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Peter F. Kurland	....	sound mixer (as Peter Kurland)
Skip Lievsay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Tommy Louie	....	cableperson
Darrin Mann	....	foley mixer
Christopher Moriana	....	foley artist (as Chris Moriana)
James Morioka	....	foley editor
Greg Orloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Byron Wilson	....	dialogue editor
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Rick Gould	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Eric Harwood	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Wilfred Caban	....	assistant special effects foreman (as Will Caban)
Carmen Campolo	....	special effects
Lorenzo Hall	....	special effects assistant
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects coordinator (as Steve Kirshoff)
Frank C. Oliva Sr.	....	special effects (as Frank Oliva)
Roy Savoy	....	special effects
Thomas Viviano	....	special effects (as Tommy Viviano)

Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	visual effects supervisor: Big Film Design (as Randy Balsmeyer)
Ella Boliver	....	digital compositor: Big Film Design
J. John Corbett	....	lead digital artist: Big Film Design
Justin Johnson	....	digital effects supervisor: Luma Pictures
Scott Minter	....	digital compositor: Big Film Design
David Piombino	....	digital compositor: Big Film Design
Adrienne Winterhalter	....	visual effects producer: Big Film Design
Daniel Abramovich	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Justin Ball	....	digital effects artist: senior systems engineer: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Leslie Chung	....	rotoscope artist (uncredited)
Vincent Cirelli	....	visual effects supervisor: Luma Pictures (uncredited)
Matthew Conner	....	digital artist (uncredited)
J. John Corbett	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Aleksandar Djordjevic	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Richard Friedlander	....	visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Ali Kocar	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Mitch Paulson	....	second digital colorist: Efilm (uncredited)
Bethany Pederson Onstad	....	rotoscope artist (uncredited)
Pimentel A. Raphael	....	animation supervisor (uncredited)
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects supervisor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Michael Ross-Lang	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Payam Shohadai	....	executive visual effects supervisor: Luma Pictures (uncredited)
Chris 'Pinkus' Wesselman	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Jun Zhang	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Tim Buchanan	....	stunts
George B. Colucci Jr.	....	stunts (as George Colucci)
Norman Douglass	....	stunts
Danny Downey	....	stunts (as Daniel Downey)
Stephanie Finochio	....	stunts
Cort Hessler	....	stunts
Donald John Hewitt	....	stunts (as Donald J. Hewitt)
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Jennifer Lamb	....	stunts
Joanne Lamstein	....	stunts
Samantha MacIvor	....	stunts (as Samantha Macivor)
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunts
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts
David Shumbris	....	stunt double: Brad Pitt
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts
Michael Ahl	....	precision driver (uncredited)
Dennis Albanese	....	precision driver (uncredited)
Samantha MacIvor	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Wesley Battle	....	grip
Eric Boncher	....	lamp operator
Sarah Brandes	....	camera loader: Washington, DC
Edward Button	....	camera trainee
Kevin 'Vinnie' Campbell	....	gaffer: Washington, DC
Brian Carmichael	....	production video assist
Glen Engels	....	best boy grip (as Glenn Engels)
Richie Ford	....	rigging gaffer
Randy Greer	....	remote head operator: Washington, DC
Scott Gregoire	....	lamp operator
Joseph Grimaldi	....	best boy electric (as Joe Grimaldi)
Richard Guinness Jr.	....	key grip
Victor Huey	....	grip
Billy Kerwick	....	key rigging grip (as William Kerwick)
Jeremy Knaster	....	lamp operator
Oriana Lewton-Leopold	....	camera trainee
Bobby Mancuso	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Robert Mancuso)
Patrick McAllister	....	genny operator: Washington, DC (as Pat McCallister)
Patrick McGrath	....	dolly grip
Todd Norton	....	rigging electric: Washington, DC
Bill O'Leary	....	chief lighting technician
Louis Petraglia	....	best boy rigging gaffer (as Louie Petraglia)
Macall B. Polay	....	still photographer (as Macall Polay)
George Richmond	....	camera operator: "a" camera
George Richmond	....	steadicam operator
Peter Rosenfeld	....	camera operator: Washington, DC
Michael Rudolph	....	genny operator: base camp
Stuart Stein	....	second assistant camera: Washington, DC (as Stewart Stein)
Robert Stevers	....	genny operator (as Bob Stevers)
Scott Tinsley	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Basil Tydings	....	rigging electric: Washington, DC (as Basil 'Chip' Tydings)
Joseph Viano	....	best boy rigging grip (as Joe Viano)
Robert Vuolo	....	lamp operator (as Rob Vuolo)
Russell A. Wicks	....	best boy electric: Washington, DC (as Russell Wicks)
Yueni Zander	....	camera loader
Tanner Bayer	....	grip: Washington, DC (uncredited)
Mark Beattie	....	electrician (uncredited)
Hilary Benas	....	additional camera loader (uncredited)
Jeff Callow	....	grip: Washington, DC (uncredited)
Tim Ferraer	....	grip (uncredited)
Zachary Henderson	....	grip (uncredited)
John Keating	....	grip (uncredited)
Christopher Moats	....	grip: Washington, DC (uncredited)
Monty Nielsen	....	construction electrician (uncredited)
Brent Poleski	....	grip (uncredited)
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote camera operator (uncredited)
Michael Rich	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Lance Rieck	....	remote camera technician: scorpio head (uncredited)
Lance Shepherd	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Michael Wacks	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Robert D. Yeoman	....	additional photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Melissa Braun	....	extras casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Rachel Tenner	....	casting associate
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting
Mandy Sprinkel	....	location casting (uncredited)
Dagmar Wittmer	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cha Blevins	....	wardrobe supervisor: LA
Danielle Cadorette	....	tailor
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor: NY
Nicole Greenbaum	....	set costumer
Fionnuala M. Lynch	....	set costumer (as Fionnuala Lynch)
Mary Jo McGrath	....	wardrobe supervisor: NY (as MJ McGrath)
Remy Pearce	....	costume coordinator
Amy Roth	....	assistant costume designer
Jonathan Schwartz	....	costume assistant
Nomi Shichor	....	key costumer: LA
Nora Wooldridge	....	costume assistant
Helen L. Collen	....	costumer (uncredited)
Michael Simon	....	costumer: Washington, DC (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Catherine Farrell	....	post-production coordinator
Eileen Godoy	....	digital intermediate producer: EFilm
Katie Mcquerrey	....	associate editor (as Catherine McQuerrey)
Steven J. Scott	....	supervising digital colorist: EFilm
Neil A. Stelzner	....	associate editor
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor (as Joey Violante)
Erik Freid	....	post-production project manager (uncredited)
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (uncredited)
Matt Hull	....	assistant digital intermediate producer (uncredited)
Curtis Lindersmith	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
Jim Passon	....	color timer (uncredited)
Richie Roefaro	....	editorial assistant: Technicolor (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul Clarvis	....	musician: drums
Michael Farrow	....	music mixer (as Mike Farrow)
Michael Farrow	....	music recordist (as Mike Farrow)
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Dave Hartley	....	musician: piano
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
Gary Kettel	....	musician: drums
Frank Ricotti	....	musician: drums
Chris Robertson	....	music clearances: Diamond Time
Ralph Salmins	....	musician: drums
Rosemary Warren-Green	....	orchestra leader (as Rose Warren-Green)
Lucy Whalley	....	assistant orchestra contractor
Carter Burwell	....	conductor (uncredited)
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Chris Clad	....	musician: violin (uncredited)
Lewis Jones	....	assistant score engineer (uncredited)
Todd Kasow	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Dean Parker	....	composer assistant (uncredited)
Jonathan Williams	....	musician: cello (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Peter Clores	....	transportation co-captain
Steven R. Hammond	....	transportation captain (as Steve Hammond)
Christina Schaich	....	transportation office coordinator
Danielle Fredrickson	....	transportation dispatcher (uncredited)
Teresa Haney	....	transportation (uncredited)
Gabe Turiello	....	driver: star trailer (uncredited)

Other crew
Joan Altman	....	production accountant
Christina Angeloudes	....	legal and business affairs manager: Working Title
Sage Asteak	....	key set production assistant
Kate Bailey	....	assistant production coordinator: Working Title
Brette Billow	....	assistant production coordinator
Maurice Cabrera	....	parking coordinator
Ethan Carlson	....	office production assistant
Stephen Clarke	....	set production assistant
Wendy Cohen	....	clearance services
Tianni L. Craig	....	production office assistant: Washington, DC
Katherine Delaney	....	location assistant
Chloe Dorigan	....	assistant: Tim Bevan, Working Title
Kimberly N. Fajen	....	production coordinator (as Kimberly N. Haden)
Beth Feldman	....	assistant: Ms. McDormand
Kathleen Fellegara	....	set medic (as Kathy Fellegara)
Glenn Ferrara	....	set production assistant
Amanda Foley	....	location coordinator
Marcy Forgang	....	location assistant
Rachael Lin Gallaghan	....	unit coordinator: Washington, DC
Andrew Garrett	....	accounting clerk
Christopher Geair	....	assistant location manager: Washington, DC
Dena Ghieth	....	location assistant
Niko Godfrey	....	accounting clerk
Cort Hessler	....	marine coordinator
Drew P. Houpt	....	the walrus (as Drew Houpt)
Thomas Johnston	....	script supervisor
Larry Kaplan	....	unit publicist
Nazia Khan	....	assistant: Mr. Pitt
Santena Jenaris King	....	assistant accountant: Washington, DC (as Santena King)
Matt Lake	....	set production assistant
Christopher LeStrange	....	location assistant
Michael B. Lewis	....	office production assistant (as Michael 'Winn' Lewis)
Francesca M. Mannix	....	production secretary (as Francesca Mannix)
Angel McConnell	....	assistant: Mr. Clooney
Angela Morrison	....	chief operating officer: Working Title
Patricia M. Murphy	....	serious matters (as Patricia M. Murphy Esq.)
Kip Myers	....	assistant location manager
Lauri Pitkus	....	location manager
Peggy Pridemore	....	location manager: Washington, DC
Chauency Reese	....	payroll accountant
Michael J. Regina	....	production office assistant: Washington, D.C.
Doreen Roman	....	set medic
Patrick Sandefur	....	office production assistant
Bryan Scott	....	location assistant
John Sesumi	....	office production assistant
Sheeraz Shah	....	head of legal and business affairs: Working Title
Raygun Sharpadero	....	second assistant accountant (as Regan Sharp)
Cara Shine	....	assistant: Eric Fellner, Working Title
John Spady	....	location scout
Susan Strine	....	first assistant accountant
Christian Vendetti	....	set production assistant
Jamie Vermilye	....	location assistant
Zach Broussard	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Allyn Camp	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Brian M. Chilcoat	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael P. Cone	....	production assistant (uncredited)
J. John Corbett	....	title designer (uncredited)
Ana Cuadra	....	location scout (uncredited)
Kevin Curtin	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael DeChant	....	production assistant: Washington DC (uncredited)
Charles Fagin	....	assistant location manager: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Todd Feaser	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Robert L. Fiks	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Robert L. Fiks	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Miguel Gutierrez	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Chad Hessler	....	marine department (uncredited)
Hannah Hoover	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeff Johnson	....	medic (uncredited)
Douglas M. Jones	....	set production assistant: Washington, DC (uncredited)
Tim Kossa	....	key location assistant: Washington, DC (uncredited)
Harry Lapham	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Alex Lee	....	production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Lindsey Magee	....	location scout (uncredited)
Talia Mayer	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ethan Meyer	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Liz Modena	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Elena Moscatt	....	key craft services: Washington DC (uncredited)
Paulette Osorio	....	publicity executive (uncredited)
Justin Reid	....	location scout (uncredited)
Brieann Rich	....	set medic (uncredited)
Kara Ryan	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Elizabeth Sherman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Rick Shine	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Susan Silas	....	location scout (uncredited)
Brian J. Simpson	....	production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Heli Soell	....	assistant post-production accountant (uncredited)
Megan Taylor	....	production assistant (uncredited)
William Thompson	....	personal fitness trainer (uncredited)
Clinton Trucks	....	office assistant: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Victoria Uychich	....	production assistant (uncredited)
David Vogel	....	production assistant: Washington, DC (uncredited)
David Wenzel	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Bill Hudson	....	special thanks
Suzanne Lindbergh	....	special thanks
Pina Martinelli	....	special thanks: Bronx Community College
Michael Wong	....	special thanks
Beverly Wood	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Focus Features (presents)
• StudioCanal (in association with)
• Relativity Media (in association with)
• Working Title Films (as Working Title)
• Mike Zoss Productions

Distributors

• Empire (2008) (Romania) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• CLMC Multimedia (2008) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2008) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Nikkatsu (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Cyprus) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Showtime (2008) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• StudioCanal (2008) (France) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2008) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Blue Sky Media (2008) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Castello Lopes Multimedia (2008) (Portugal) (all media)
• Central Partnership (2008) (Russia) (all media)
• De Volkskrant (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Complete Coen Brother Collection)
• FS Film (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• FX Network (2011) (USA) (TV)
• Film1 (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Tiglon (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2009) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2009) (Germany) (DVD) (Special edition)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2010) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Big Film Design (visual effects)
• Brainstorm Digital (additional visual effects)
• Luma Pictures (additional visual effects)
• PlethoraFX (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as Aon/ Albert G Ruben Insurance services, Inc.)
• Abbey Road Studios  score recorded at (as Abbey Road)
• Apple/Final Cut Pro  edited on (as Final Cut Pro)
• Atlantic Cine Equipment  supplier: StabC (uncredited)
• BayView Entertainment  courtesy: "Gilad: Step Aerobics" clip (as Bayview Entertainment LLC)
• Bianchi Bicycles  special thanks
• Big Film Design  title sequences
• Body Studio  music mixed at (uncredited)
• Bronx Community College  special thanks
• Costco of New Rochelle  special thanks
• Cybex International  special thanks (as Cybex International Inc.)
• Diamond Time  music clearances
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity (uncredited)
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances (uncredited)
• Executive Cutting Service  negative cutting (as Executive Cutting)
• Forbo Flooring  special thanks
• Fremantle Media North America  courtesy: "Family Feud" clip (as Freemantlemedia)
• Gilad Productions  courtesy: "Gilad: Step Aerobics" clip (as Gilad Productions Ltd.)
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Gym Source  special thanks
• Haddad's  transportation equipment (uncredited)
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency (uncredited)
• Jamba Juice  special thanks
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack (uncredited)
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Mayor's Office for Film, Theater and Broadcasting  special thanks (as City of New York Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting)
• National Park Service, National Capital Region  special thanks
• Navesync  video playback
• New York City Parks Department  special thanks
• New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development  special thanks (as New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development)
• On Tour Productions  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Paramount Transportation Services  transportation services (uncredited)
• Post Factory NY  post-production facility (as Post Factory)
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals (uncredited)
• Sony Pictures Studios  re-recorded at
• The Wilton Rivas Company  craft service
• Tomkats Catering  catering (as Tomkats Movie Catering, LLC.)
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment: Washington, DC (uncredited)
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting (as Trevana Post, Inc.)
• United States Park Police  special thanks (as The United States Park Police)
• Wilson Rivas Company  craft service (as The Wilson Rivas Company)
• Word to Your Movie  combined continuity

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA | UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44448) | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-13 | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Singapore:NC-16 (video rating) (heavily cut) | UK:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:12 (f) | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Japan:PG-12 | Czech Republic:15 | Peru:14 | France:U | South Korea:18 | Iceland:14 (video rating) | Iceland:16 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Bronx Community College - University Avenue at West 181 Street, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Joel Coen] [The Films of Stanley Kubrick]The sound emitted by the homing scanner from Bowman's space pod in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is heard in the opening titles. Harry Pfarrer's house number is 114, a nod to Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). Linda Litzke refers to her "Mickey Mouse H.M.O." provided by Hardbodies, a nod to Full Metal Jacket (1987).

Goofs:

Continuity: After Osbourne has quit the agency, we see him on a sailboat motoring on the water. The scene changes to a closeup with his father and the sailboat is suddenly not moving through the water.

Quotes:

Harry Pfarrer:Ya wanna come downstairs? Ya like surprises?
Linda Litzke:[cheerful] Well, I'm always open to new experiences.
Harry Pfarrer:[walking downstairs] Yeah, I tell ya. I saw an ad for this in a gentlemen's magazine. Twelve hundred bucks. I'm lookin' at this thing and I think, 'You gotta be kiddin' me.' I'm a hobbyist. Thing's basically nothing but speed rails. I figure I'd go down to Home Depot and whip this up myself for... a hundred bucks.
Linda Litzke:What is it?
Harry Pfarrer:What is it?
[pats the seat of the mechanism]
Harry Pfarrer:You sit down there, make yourself comfortable, put your feet in the stirrups, and...
[cycles the mechanism]
Linda Litzke:Oh my God.
[awed whisper]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Despicable Me/The Kids Are All Right (#2.24)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Picked Up (Niyi Remix)

I hate to say this, but "Meh."

I have heard it said that a good film has no bad scenes and four good ones. Well, 'Burn After Reading' has no bad scenes... and no really good ones either.

The film was consistently amusing, and kept me interested enough to want to see what happens next. The ending was not predictable, nor was it entirely unsatisfactory. Never once did the film insult my intelligence or presume upon me to care for a character without providing sufficient reason. These are all good things. But while we're talking about things this film never did, never once did this "comedy" amuse me enough to actually consider it "funny".

Now, that's not good at all.

As has been pointed out in the consistently funny comic 'Calvin and Hobbes', there is more to 'good' than the mere absence of evil. So while, unlike almost every other film I've ever seen, 'Burn After Reading' has no flaws or niggly little bits where I'm left thinking how I'd do things differently, it doesn't have any particularly good bits either, and has ultimately left me underwhelmed.

It's like we've had some sort of yin-yang trade-off, where by removing the bad we have unwittingly eliminated the good, stranding the film in limbo for eternity.

So, did 'Burn After Reading' amuse me? Yes, I was amused, though I never once laughed out loud.

Do I regret seeing it? Not really. It kept me interested for 90 minutes, which is more than I can say for a lot of other films out there.

Was it a good film? My feelings here are truly mixed, though ultimately I'd have to say "I don't think so".

I'm guessing that critics are going crazy over this film because it doesn't make any of the irritating mistakes that plague so many other films. The story is solid with no plot holes or overt clichés, the characters are well written and consistent, it never talks down to the audience, the acting is great and so is the directing.

Now, as a point of comparison I'd like you to consider 'Open Season'. This aimated film was flawed at many levels, from sluggish direction to uninspired writing and miscast actors. But in addition to this there were at least half a dozen really funny bits in it.

My point here is that while much of 'Open Season' was regrettable, at least I laughed six times. Which is six more times than I laughed during 'Burn After Reading'. As a result, I remember 'Open Season' much more fondly, despite it being the inferior film in almost every way.

In conclusion, 'Burn After Reading' just isn't exciting or funny enough to cut any sort of mustard, and so we have a film that a lot can be learned from, both in what to and not to do when making a film.

I mean, seriously. My prevailing feeling with regard to 'Burn After Reading' is one of apathy. That's never good.