Burn After Reading Review

Thank you for checking out our Burn After Reading Review. If you’d like to see the video version of our Burn After Reading Review you can watch it at the bottom of this post.

The General Idea

Plot synopsis from IMDB: A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.

The Good

Nihilistic Delight

This was a very quirky lighthearted film for a dark nihilistic comedy. I was amazed at how frivolous they were able to keep this film with so many dark themes bubbling underneath and the ongoing, compounding tragedies that culminated in a vicious crescendo.

The Players

The performances in the film were outstanding; everyone played their characters as caricatures, in fairy tale fashion. Brad Pitt (Chad Feldheimer) is a gum chewing gym dude, McDormand (Linda Litzke) is his self loathing, lonely co-worker. Malcovitch (Osborne Cox)is an alcoholic ivy league grad that won’t let anyone forget it (including himself), Swinton (Katie Cox) is his mechanical, opportunistic wife that seeks an exit from matrimony the moment he ceases to bring home a check. George Clooney (Harry Pfarrer) bangs the gang together (pun intended) through his adulterous addiction.

The Theme Of Vanity

I like the Coen Brothers quite a lot, and consider them to be among the greatest artists in their field. Much of this has to do with their execution of themes; you have to read between the lines and search them yourself. In this film the common thread of Vanity was stitched throughout. Vanity of Vanities all is vanity! decreed the prophet of Ecclesiastes (and this very well could have been an alternate title for this film). When someone is consumed by vanity, that which is unimportant becomes all consuming.

Linda Litzke is a middle aged character that looks just fine, but is terrified about getting older. When the opportunity presents itself to blackmail Osborne Cox, she is able to justify it because the money will pay for her plastic surgeries; the highest good. Chad Feldheimer, who serves as an avatar of vanity in this film, continually whispers positive affirmation in her ear, like the devil on her shoulder.
Malcovitch is an intellectual drunk, who gets fired from his job because of his problem; but continually refuses to admit that he has one. Because of his intellect and pedigree he feels free from reproach and above mortal men. When “2 idiots” seek to blackmail him over a disk of personal information, his ego flares up and propels him toward needless confrontation. The fact that lesser humans feel they have the right to expect anything from him, causes him to defend his honor, his pride, his ego; the very things that fuel his vanity.

The vanity of intellect meets the vanity of body and all sorts of fallout happens as a result, and at the end of the day - it was much ado about nothing. That which is all consuming to the vain is nonsense to the outsider. Only when you remember that all is vanity are you free to walk the path of wisdom. The path of wisdom and the path of vanity may have the same destination, but on the path of wisdom you are able to enjoy the surroundings. With vanity, you chase the wind.

The Bad

I didn’t care for many of the haircuts, especially Brad Pitt’s getup - but that was the point.

Overall

No Country was a heavy nihilistic tale; this one was light and airy, fun and fluffy. I thought that the feel of the film was a perfect way to tell the story and illuminate the themes. I enjoy dark comedies very much, and this was a good one indeed. Out of 10, I would give this film an 8.

You can watch the video version of the Burn After Reading review here: