Oddball black comedy from the Coen Brothers (No Country For Old Men, Fargo) as stolen worthless data escalates into a perceived security risk.
Quitting his job as a CIA analyst rather be demoted due to excessive drinking, John Malkovich (RED, Dangerous Liaisons) writes his memoires – with his wife (Tilda Swinton – I Am Love, Snowpiercer) inadvertently responsible for the loss of the disc. Cue an extraordinarily convoluted plot as the disc falls into the hands of gym co-workers Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand – who promptly try to sell the information to the Russian embassy. Adultery, paranoia, murder and mayhem follow as misinformation is piled up on misinformation.
The all star cast (add George Clooney, Richard Jenkins, J.K.Simmons) is somewhat wasted in this patchy, supercilious comedy. There are the occasional sublime moments (an incredibly dumb Brad Pitt in particular) but sadly Burn After Reading is far from the duo’s best.
Rating: 54%
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