Good concept, poorly executed.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The Coen Brothers wrote, produced and directed this gem. If you know these 2 brothers you wouldnt be reading these reviews, because the Coen Brothers are the pinnacle of genius of independent american cinema. Everything they make is worth watching and "Burn after Reading" is one of my most favorite comedies of their makings. Not suited for the popcornloving masses who want simple straight comedies. Entirely suited and strongly recommended for anyone else!The story is about Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand who are working at a gym and discover a disc which they presume belongs to an intelligence agency. Because Frances McDormand is desperately in need for money for plastic surgery, together with Brad Pitt, they decide to extort an Cia agent for money in return for the disc with intelligence secrets. The Cia guy is played by John Malkovich in a truly hilarious roles. All roles are hilarious by the way. This is acting heaven! Alongside this already hilarious story there is a second storyline interwoven in which George Clooney has an affair which in an almost surreal and hilarious way becomes another clusterf*g at the Cia. The screenplay for this film was featured in the 2007 list of the 'most liked' scripts of the year. It 's a story to die for, pure genius.As always a great thumping soundtrack by Carter Burwell. Beautiful photography and editing. Everything is perfect. How couldnt it have been, because it 's the Coen Brothers!

Now that I've watched at least ten Coen films, and seen them at least twice each, I feel inclined to draw conclusions about the oeuvre. A friend of mine in the film business told me that it's the director who makes the film. The actor may sell the film, since people often just want to see him/her. But the ultimate merit of a film depends on the writer. This is where the Coens may be lacking. Their scripts are said to be extremely well-prepared before shooting. But that doesn't necessarily mean they contain any substance. Coen films can give an impression of having been thrown together in the form of several episodic cameos, compelling or amusing, but somehow lacking unity. This is the case with BUR, I feel, and may account for those reviewers who express their dissatisfaction with it. I would say the Coens' most solid and impressive production is No Country for Old Men, and that may be because it is based directly on someone else's book. It seems to mean something. The Coen remakes are not good, and one wonders why they were made.. The trouble with something like Burn After Reading, is that it seems ultimately pointless, although it is funny in parts. There is a tendency in many of these films for people to croak. Death is a joke. Perhaps most comedy lacks substance. Burn after Reading is a makeshift title.

Really liked this movie based on its simplicity of its characters and plot. Lots of people expected action and drama cause it had major Hollywood stars. The great thing about this movie is it felt so real to watch broken characters engaging other broken characters with real life problems like job washout, aging, adultery and best of all entitlement.All the characters felt very real and all were flawed to a point you weren't rooting for anyone. Very rare and refreshing just to sit back and watch.What I took away from this flick was the fact the Big Government really had no idea what the hell was going on and Hollywood loves to make Big Government the all knowing enemy. The last 2:50 of this movie rank up there with great Coen brothers endings.I feel people wanted more Hollywood which like usual they didn't do.

Though most Coen Bros. films skirt a fine line between reality and fantasy, this is the only film in their ranks that is so inexplicable and stupid, it must be a true American crime story. Burn After Reading details what happens when you give absolute idiots classified information. The Coens needed the perfect oddball cast, and they got one. John Malkovich is easily the standout favorite of mine. A disgruntled ex-CIA agent with the dirty mouth of a truck driver and a lethal temper. He's phenomenal. Frances McDormand shines here as a middle-of-the-road dolt who only cares about plastic surgery. George Clooney is just George Clooney, but I got a kick out of his patented sex- machine and his priceless reaction to finding a stranger in his home. Brad Pitt, as the over-the-top gymnast, is the only one that sort of left me cold. Nearly anyone other than Brad Pitt could've played that character. A seasoned comedian, no doubt, would've knocked it out of the park. Is this a highlight of the Coens? Not exactly, but it's entertaining as hell.