TIFF Review: Burn After Reading

Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen
Writers: Joel and Ethan Coen
Producers: Tim Bevan, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Eric Fellner
Starring: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, J.K. Simmons, Richard Jenkins
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 96 min

After a darker shade of moral dilemmas and poor decisions compounding on one another in last year’s Oscar winner, No Country for Old Men, The Coens bring back that same attitude again with Burn After Reading. This time though, in true Coen fashion, they’ve brought back their screwball aspect to storytelling let the actors have all the fun they want without taking anything too seriously. And a lot of fun it is!

An all-star cast shines brilliantly, each with their own personal goals and problems… or some just don’t really give a hoot about anything at all (”aw, that must be exhausting”). Frances McDormand and her obsession with plastic surgery, George Clooney’s adulterous affairs, Tilda Swinton and John Malkovich’s constant bickering, Brad Pitt’s bumbling, “try to be a spy” routine and JK Simmons’ CIA director with a “let’s just see what happens with all these idiots” mentality all weave together to become one of the most enjoyable of circus spectacles in the cinema this year.
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