Burn After Reading (Joel & Ethan Coen, 2008)

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Jean-Luc Garbo · #51 Post by **Jean-Luc Garbo** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:16 pm

I am not a Coen Bros. fan, but the trailer really hooked me. The fact that it's got Malkovich looking like he's got a good role only convinced me. Plus it's got Tilda Swinton.

#52 Post by **mfunk9786** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:26 pm

Jean-Luc Garbo wrote:I am not a Coen Bros. fan, but the trailer really hooked me. The fact that it's got Malkovich looking like he's got a good role only convinced me. Plus it's got Tilda Swinton.

Wow, that is bizarrely reversed from every other opinion expressed about this movie.

Antoine Doinel · #53 Post by **Antoine Doinel** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:11 am

Meet the characters.

Andre Jurieu · #54 Post by **Andre Jurieu** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:15 am

After winning the Oscar, I'm dreading how much spite is going to be levelled at the Coens when this hits theatres.

Banana #3 · #55 Post by **Banana #3** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:22 pm

Premiering tonight at the Venice Film Festival. Here are two reviews.

anvilscepe · #56 Post by **anvilscepe** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:28 pm

This quote from The Times on-line is simply amazing:

"(Swinton, delivering her lines with a scrotum-shrivelling ferocity)".

She scares me.

#57 Post by **swo17** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:32 pm

I saw Tilda Swinton once at a Sigur Ros concert during Sundance. She always struck me as the mellow type.

relapser · #58 Post by **relapser** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:46 pm

I just hope Clooney doesnt ruin it. Tilda is great. McDormand is usually wonderful too. She's good when she's bitchy.

Barmy · #59 Post by **Barmy** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:41 pm

The reviews are generally in a "burn after filming" tone. =D>

rs98762001 · #60 Post by **rs98762001** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:11 am

For what it's worth, an acquaintance whose opinion I respect said it was worse even than The Ladykillers. "Like Big Lebowski, just without the humor" was his verdict.

#61 Post by **domino harvey** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:11 am

rs98762001 wrote: "Like Big Lebowski, just without the humor"

Talk about a redundant statement!

MichaelB · #62 Post by **MichaelB** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:15 am

swo17 wrote:I saw Tilda Swinton once at a Sigur Ros concert during Sundance. She always struck me as the mellow type.

She was pretty calm and collected the only time I was ever in the same room as her...

Faux Hulot · #63 Post by **Faux Hulot** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:18 pm

MichaelB wrote:
swo17 wrote:I saw Tilda Swinton once at a Sigur Ros concert during Sundance. She always struck me as the mellow type.
She was pretty calm and collected the only time I was ever in the same room as her...

Parts of Stephanie Daley were shot where I was working at the time, and she was as down-to-earth as could be imagined.

:: swoon ::

tavernier · #64 Post by **tavernier** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:06 am

Uh oh--Armond likes it.

#65 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:05 am

Holy kiss of death

Cash Flagg · #66 Post by **Cash Flagg** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:22 am

Bonus points for the Norbit comparison.

tavernier · #67 Post by **tavernier** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:52 am

Manohla yawns.

Zumpano · #68 Post by **Zumpano** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:09 pm

Anyone know what the song is that plays in the television commercial? That stomping bluesy guitar bit? Not the Elbow song that plays in the theatrical trailer. Any help?

AWA · #69 Post by **AWA** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:20 pm

That would be "I Got A Line On You" by Spirit from the late 60's.

Not in the actual film, btw.

#70 Post by **mfunk9786** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:14 pm

This film was a big disappointment. Anyone making the claim that this could become a Lebowski-like cult film has me scratching my head. I barely remember it, and I just saw it last night.

bkimball · #71 Post by **bkimball** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:34 pm

mfunk9786 wrote:This film was a big disappointment.

Just have lower expectations.

I also saw this last night. I actually was pleasantly surprised. Brad Pitt was the best at selling his idiotic character, and I absolutely loved every minute with J.K. Simmons in his office.

I have found with the Coen brothers' movies that peoples' expectations are such that they laugh before anything even funny happens. "Oh, this movie is billed as a comedy? I must laugh before anyone to show how smart I am."

There were little shining moments in this one -- most importantly the closet scene. My favorite movie ever? No. But definitely worth a viewing.

Zumpano · #72 Post by **Zumpano** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 3:40 pm

AWA wrote:That would be "I Got A Line On You" by Spirit from the late 60's.

Not in the actual film, btw.

Still not the song I'm talking about. There is no singing. Just that stomping beat, an overdriven bluesy sounding guitar, here's a link to the commercial I'm talking about...

hot_locket · #73 Post by **hot_locket** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 4:10 am

Zumpano wrote:
AWA wrote:That would be "I Got A Line On You" by Spirit from the late 60's.

Not in the actual film, btw.
Still not the song I'm talking about. There is no singing. Just that stomping beat, an overdriven bluesy sounding guitar, here's a link to the commercial I'm talking about...

That's the Elbow song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL4mywCOJXA

Joe Buck · #74 Post by **Joe Buck** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 6:06 am

I saw it today. I found it pretty amusing, for the most part. I wasn't asking for much. It was nothing to write home about. Had another Coen Brother ending that was more clever than truly satisfying for the viewer. The whole film is sorta a big mess. Strong performances are the only thing that holds it together. Just okay.

moviscop · #75 Post by **moviscop** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:36 am

I really enjoyed the film. The only problem I found myself in was concentrating on the technical aspect instead of the story. I was lost for a big part of the film so have decided to revisit it.

However, the humor and story resembled The Big Lebowski most and was absolutely hysterically executed. The acting was wonderful and the sarcastic nature of pretty much every situation was really fun.

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