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.

Directors:

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Writers:

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Stars:

Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 8 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Palmer DeBakey Smith
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

Storyline

Osbourne Cox, a Balkan expert, resigned from the CIA because of a drinking problem, 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 CD-ROM 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 cosmetic 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.

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Plot Keywords:

dark comedy | stupidity | farce | internet dating | black comedy | 

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Taglines:

Intelligence is relative.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Coen Brothers (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen) and their long-time composer, Carter Burwell, decided that the movie should have a bombastic music score that suggested 'meaning without meaning' and chose Jerry Goldsmith's percussive music for Seven Days in May (1964) as its chief inspiration.

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Goofs

Although Linda's car is red, after she rear-ends Osborne's car, a white vehicle is shown beside and driving to the side of Osborne in camera shots taken through his car.

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Quotes

Chad Feldheimer: Osbourne Cox?
Osbourne Cox: Yes, this is Osbourne Cox, who the FUCK are YOU?

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Crazy Credits

There is credit for 'The Walrus'

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Connections

References The President's Analyst (1967)

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Soundtracks

CIA Man
(1965)
Written by Tuli Kupferberg
Performed by The Fugs
Courtesy of Edward Sanders / Heavy Metal Music

User Reviews

not their best, but pleasurable nonetheless

This is by far not the most interesting production by the Cohens, but it is worth watching on a variety of levels. First, there is the pleasure of seeing a bunch of good actors working together with great chemistry, some of them (like Pitt and Clooney) certainly not in their "traditional" roles. Second, the story is actually wacky enough to hold up in terms of internal logic, as strange as it may seem. As usual with the brothers, do expect some unexpected turns, of the violent variety. And yet, somehow, the movie retains the character of a light comedy. Pay particular attention to the very last words spoken in the film, they may be the best summary of the whole thing I've heard so far.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Burn After Reading

Filming Locations:

Greenpoint, Long Island, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$37,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,128,001, 14 September 2008

Gross USA:

$60,355,347

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$163,728,902

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features, StudioCanal, Relativity Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1