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Burn After Reading

  • 2008
  • R
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
341K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,251
71
Burn After Reading (2008)
Burn After Reading - Theatrical Trailer
Play trailer1:48
25 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyCrimeDrama

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.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.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
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    341K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,251
    71
    • Directors
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Stars
      • Brad Pitt
      • Frances McDormand
      • George Clooney
    • 699User reviews
    • 342Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards
      • 8 wins & 32 nominations total

    Videos25

    Burn After Reading
    Trailer 1:48
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Trailer 0:33
    Watch Burn After Reading
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Clip 1:56
    Watch A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:53
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:43
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:36
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:50
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:36
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:30
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:38
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading: At The Plastic Surgeon
    Clip 0:36
    Watch Burn After Reading: At The Plastic Surgeon
    Burn After Reading: Rendezvous With Mr. Black
    Clip 0:38
    Watch Burn After Reading: Rendezvous With Mr. Black

    Photos177

    Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading (2008)
    John Malkovich in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading (2008)
    John Malkovich in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Frances McDormand and Jeffrey DeMunn in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Tilda Swinton in Burn After Reading (2008)
    George Clooney and Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading (2008)
    George Clooney and Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading (2008)
    George Clooney and Tilda Swinton in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Ethan Coen and Joel Coen in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brad Pitt
    Brad Pitt
    • Chad Feldheimer
    Frances McDormand
    Frances McDormand
    • Linda Litzke
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • Harry Pfarrer
    John Malkovich
    John Malkovich
    • Osborne Cox
    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • Katie Cox
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Ted
    Elizabeth Marvel
    Elizabeth Marvel
    • Sandy Pfarrer
    David Rasche
    David Rasche
    • CIA Officer Palmer DeBakey Smith
    J.K. Simmons
    J.K. Simmons
    • CIA Superior
    • (as JK Simmons)
    Olek Krupa
    Olek Krupa
    • Krapotkin
    Michael Countryman
    Michael Countryman
    • Alan
    Kevin Sussman
    Kevin Sussman
    • Tuchman Marsh Man
    J.R. Horne
    • Divorce Lawyer
    • (as JR Horne)
    Hamilton Clancy
    Hamilton Clancy
    • Peck
    Armand Schultz
    Armand Schultz
    • Olson
    Pun Bandhu
    Pun Bandhu
    • Party Guest
    Karla Mosley
    Karla Mosley
    • Party Guest
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Cosmetic Surgeon
    • Directors
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Coen Brothers (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen) 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.
    • Goofs
      When the CIA supervisor opens & closes a file marked "Top Secret", the file's cover sheet is outlined in red. This is an error because the cover sheet of all "Top Secret" classified files is outlined in orange. Red is saved for the cover sheets of all classified files marked "Secret" and blue is used for the cover sheets of all classified files marked "Confidential".
    • Quotes

      Osbourne Cox: I have a drinking problem? Fuck you, Peck, you're a Mormon. Compared to you we ALL have a drinking problem!

    • Crazy credits
      As usual, the Coen Brothers edited this film under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Burn After Reading/Traitor/College/Babylon A.D./Hamlet 2 (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      My Eyes Adored You
      Written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan

      Sung by George Clooney

    User reviews699

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    More "Big Lebowski" Than "Intolerable Cruelty" -- thankfully
    BURN AFTER READING is laugh-out-loud funny. It's more "Big Lebowski" than "Intolerable Cruelty," though there are wisps of both, but "Burn" is not quite up to Lebowski's genius. Still, it is very, very funny and loads of fun.

    From the opening moments, the Coens' latest movie -- a spy-thriller spoof -- hurls the viewer on a hilarious romp through Absurd-land. What better place to set such a story than Washington, DC?

    The story involves a demoted government worker (John Malkovich) who finds himself the target of an extortion scheme by two gym workers, riotously played by Frances McDormand (a would-be gym bunny if only she could afford some plastic surgery) and Brad Pitt (a high-energy, arm-thrusting, hip-shaking fitness trainer-cum-"good Samaritan" who lands himself way in over his head). The romp soon turns dark.

    As usual, the Coens' dialog is a real treat. When a co-worker points to Malkovich's alcohol problems as a reason for his demotion, Malkovich retorts, "You're a Mormon. Next to you we all have a drinking problem." And as usual in Coen-land, there's a clash between high and low brow. Malkovich's pronunciations of "mem-wahhh" for "memoir" is a hoot, and his correction of Pitt's mistaken "report" for "rapport" propels a conflict between classes and types -- symbols of a society in trouble, whose priorities are askew.

    As in the Coen brothers' 1987 box-office hit RAISING ARIZONA, obsessions fuel the plot, though this time it's body (not baby) obsession. McDormand is hellbent on getting expensive elective surgery to "reinvent" herself. Pitt is a workout addict, who can barely stop moving long enough to think straight. And George Clooney, who can only stop talking when it's time to go running or jump into bed with someone, plays a G-man fixated on sex. Notions of "intelligence" and all that the word connotes (along with its antonyms) mix into the film's dark comedic brew of unintended consequences.

    Where does it go? I don't want to give away any of the twists to answer that question in depth. But I would disagree with the critics who claim it doesn't go anywhere. The movie and its over-the-top, needless violence show how secretive missions even by bumbling know-nothings (whose only knowledge of undercover ops seems to come from spy flicks) can have disastrous outcomes. Secrets in Washington? Sure sounds like a topic we should all be better versed in.

    • Erica Rowell Author: The Brothers Grim: The Films of Ethan and Joel Coen http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Grim-Films-Ethan-Joel/dp/0810858509
    helpful•173
    126
    • erica-224
    • Sep 10, 2008

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    FAQ5

    • Is "Burn After Reading" based on a book?
    • Were Osborne Cox's memoirs on the disc?
    • What are the songs from the trailer?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 2008 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hủy Sau Khi Đọc
    • Filming locations
      • Bronx Community College - University Avenue at West 181 Street, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Focus Features
      • StudioCanal
      • Relativity Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $37,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $60,355,347
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $19,128,001
      • Sep 14, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $163,728,902
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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