Burn After Reading

[coqauvin]

Well I just watched the Coen Bros. latest effort, Burn After Reading and i have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. The characters were quirky and incredibly well done, the storyline was very entertaining in such an understated way - very well crafted - and the juxtaposition between quirky comedy and extreme violence was surprisingly well done. I was surprised to see a cast that acted so well and became very endearing very quickly.

I'm not really a fan boy of the Coen brothers, but this is one of their better efforts, right up there with O Brother Where Art Thou?, although the latter is certainly my favourite.

Your thoughts?

[Nermy2k]

I thought it was a clusterfuck for the sake of being a clusterfuck.

[coqauvin]

What did we learn from this?

[Shinysides]

Didn't see Burn After Reading, but O Brother Where Art Thou? is an amazing movie.

[gwahir]

I found the cast to be the opposite of endearing. Except for Brad Pitt, whose death halfway through the movie just sent the whole tihng on a downward spiral.

I mean, I laughed a lot in the movie. It was funny. But it wasn't enjoyable -- I had to get behind some selfish, annoying scag whose inane lust for plastic surgery gets everyone around her killed by one of several maniacs. As soon as Brad died I was shaken and surprised and found the rest of the movie really unpleasant.

I'm not saying it wasn't good. I'm not saying it wasn't well put together or characterised. I just really didn't like it.

[gwahir]

What did we learn from this?

Oh yeah -- that end scene was frigging great. The whole subplot with the agency trying to figure out what the shit had happened was hilarious.

[coqauvin]

I really enjoyed george clooney's character a lot - he was believable and hilarious. brad pitt could have easily been edward norton, and i hated that lady who wanted the plastic surgery, but the actress did such a good job of making that character so love/hateable. she's cute and you pity her, but she's also fucking crazy and you hate her for it.

Brad Pitt dying was a little of the ultraviolence that I've come to expect from the Coen's since watching 'No Country for Old Men' I thought it fit the story, because it was a really quirky comedy up until Pitt died, and even that had a really morbid hilarity to it, although I can easily see that being something unappealing. I thought the hatcheting at the end was a little bit too macabre; it wasn't really all that necessary to be that brutal, and something about it just wasn't quite right for the character, in my opinion.

The violence to the comedy was a juxtaposition that isn't seen too often, was done tastefully at first, but went over the top at the end. It's like flavour combos of sweet/spicy or spicy/sour that isn't seen too often, and it was almost perfectly done.

[Mr. E]

I liked it because all the characters are shallow worthless insane douchebags just like real life. This kind of comedy is right up my fucking alley. And JK Simmons nailed the ending. He. Nailed. It.

[Pepsi]

I actually agreed with gwahir.

It was satisfying to see Brad Pitt shot in the head...albeit in a movie.

[gwahir]

I actually agreed with gwahir.

It was satisfying to see Brad Pitt shot in the head...albeit in a movie.

I didn't say that nor think it!

[Pepsi]

I didn't say that nor think it!

The second part was completely unrelated.

I should have put an "also," or a "though,". Sorry bud.

[coqauvin]

The second part was completely unrelated.

I should have put an "also," or a "though,". Sorry bud.

most normal people would use 'albeit'

[no_brains_no_worries]

For me it was one of those movies where I loved it as I watched it, but the second I got out of the theatre I was like, "Ghey."

[solecistic]

Yeah, I really love the Coen brothers, and I definitely thought Burn After Reading was funny, but there is just something about it that doesn't quite work for me and I can't put my finger on it.

[TheOriginalGrumpySpy]

This movie should definitely be marked with spoilers. Damn, I should have known better.

[Nermy2k]

I completely agree with gwahir except for the first two sentences in the last paragraph of his first post.

[Woofness]

This movie should definitely be marked with spoilers. Damn, I should have known better.

Seconded.

I enjoyed 'O brother Where art thou' but I find their films in general have a characteristic oppressive atmosphere which can make them challenging to watch.

[coqauvin]

I tend to enjoy their movies because the stories don't follow general story conventions, yet there is still something about the way they are done that catches your attention.

well maybe not yours, but certainly mine.

[Woofness]

I tend to enjoy their movies because the stories don't follow general story conventions, yet there is still something about the way they are done that catches your attention.

well maybe not yours, but certainly mine.

true, was no country for old men by them as well?

That would be an example of one which doesn't seem to have a definite story line but remains gripping to the end.

I wasn't saying that they weren't attention grabbing, just that they can often be difficult to enjoy.

[coqauvin]

They directed No Country for Old Men, but that was based on a story written by Cormac McCarthy

I haven't read the book, but the way the story was presented was pretty unique, and something that is distinctly Coen.

I can see what you mean by difficult to enjoy, because I had some issues with No Country for Old Men as an example, but overall their works are very artistic and well portrayed. They generally have some talented actors who give excellent performances, which never hurts, but the way the scenes are captured and presented shows the painstaking detail and love they have for what they do, and it really makes the end result something that stands out from the crowd.

edit: I like seeing things that are unique unto themselves, flaws and all.

[Woofness]

Yes, I cannot dispute that.