One Paragraph Review: Burn After Reading

I have to say this movie was a let down for me. I generally like Coen Brother's films, and I at least appreciate the humor even if I don't laugh out loud. But this movie just didn't do it for me. As the absurdity of the situation grew, I got more and more detached from the plot. I guess my tolerance for watching stupid people do stupid things on film has declined with age.

One Paragraph Review: Burn After Reading

In Burn After Reading, people with a variety of social defects and emotional disturbances make insane decisions and generally act unbelievably. Whereas this sounds like just another inane episode of The Hills, the Coehn brothers do here what they did so well with The Big Lebowski, and that is show you all manners of absurdism in a downright hilarious fashion. Everything about this movie is absurd: the individual characters, their decisions and actions, the flow of events within the movie, the random little shit (like that hilarious contraption) and even who lives and who dies - and it's all fucking hilarious. The acting is also superb across the board. Finally, this movie has the funniest, best final scene of a movie I've ever seen - I left the theater with my face hurting and tears in my eyes. Most people won't like it, but those who do will probably love it.

One Paragraph Review: Burn After Reading

I must admit, I didn't really find myself laughing during this movie. But as the movie went on, or should I say as the absurdity increased, I started to laugh a little. Slowly I laughed harder. By the end of the movie I was rolling in my chair and fighting back the tears. I could try and describe the plot, the characters, what happens, but that's really beside the point. And beyond the power of the English language. The whole thing is absurd and sublime. If you're a fan of Cohen Brothers movies, especially Cohen Brothers' humor, than you'll love Burn After Reading. If you're not a fan, well then I guess you have other problems.