Burn After Reading--a solid B

[PaloAltoCougar]

Not the Coen Brothers' best by any stretch, but still very entertaining, at least if you like their work generally. I didn't take the missus, as it's littered with F bombs, which she hates, as well as one bit of gruesome violence. So I took my sister instead, who revels in such things.

I enjoy good actors playing stupid people, and this movie is filled with them. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, Frances McDormand, David Rasche (Sledge Hammer) and J.K. Simmons--all of them very funny, if you like your humor dark. The wrap-up scene with Simmons and Rasche as CIA managers trying to figure out what happened is especially good.

The movie begins with Malkovich getting fired at the CIA. One of the officers tells him it's because he has a drinking problem. Malkovich responds, "Pettigrew, you're a Mormon, next to you EVERYONE has a drinking problem."

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

Not the Coen Brothers' best by any stretch, but still very entertaining, at least if you like their work generally. I didn't take the missus, as it's littered with F bombs, which she hates, as well as one bit of gruesome violence. So I took my sister instead, who revels in such things.

I enjoy good actors playing stupid people, and this movie is filled with them. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, Frances McDormand, David Rasche (Sledge Hammer) and J.K. Simmons--all of them very funny, if you like your humor dark. The wrap-up scene with Simmons and Rasche as CIA managers trying to figure out what happened is especially good.

The movie begins with Malkovich getting fired at the CIA. One of the officers tells him it's because he has a drinking problem. Malkovich responds, "Pettigrew, you're a Mormon, next to you EVERYONE has a drinking problem."

George Clooney only acts stupid?

I didn't know that.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

The movie begins with Malkovich getting fired at the CIA. One of the officers tells him it's because he has a drinking problem. Malkovich responds, "Pettigrew, you're a Mormon, next to you EVERYONE has a drinking problem."

Malkovich has some serious issues with our church. He gave an interview once where he mentioned getting slobbered all over by an LDS guy on a cross country flight. Apparantly it was enough to turn him off from the gospel forever.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Originally Posted by YOhio

Malkovich has some serious issues with our church. He gave an interview once where he mentioned getting slobbered all over by an LDS guy on a cross country flight. Apparantly it was enough to turn him off from the gospel forever.

It would be great if the LDS guy were Elder Gene R. Cook. I suspect we'd get a different take on this incident. It was probably DDD after some bad dental work.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

It would be great if the LDS guy were Elder Gene R. Cook. I suspect we'd get a different take on this incident. It was probably DDD after some bad dental work.

I know who it was and I'm not saying anything except that you're right, although the individual in question was kicking himself for forgetting to swipe a dental dam for the flight.

[marsupial]

Originally Posted by YOhio

Malkovich has some serious issues with our church. He gave an interview once where he mentioned getting slobbered all over by an LDS guy on a cross country flight. Apparantly it was enough to turn him off from the gospel forever.

This may be your best yet.

[CardiacCoug]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

Not the Coen Brothers' best by any stretch, but still very entertaining, at least if you like their work generally. I didn't take the missus, as it's littered with F bombs, which she hates, as well as one bit of gruesome violence. So I took my sister instead, who revels in such things.

I enjoy good actors playing stupid people, and this movie is filled with them. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, Frances McDormand, David Rasche (Sledge Hammer) and J.K. Simmons--all of them very funny, if you like your humor dark. The wrap-up scene with Simmons and Rasche as CIA managers trying to figure out what happened is especially good.

The movie begins with Malkovich getting fired at the CIA. One of the officers tells him it's because he has a drinking problem. Malkovich responds, "Pettigrew, you're a Mormon, next to you EVERYONE has a drinking problem."

I agree with your analysis completely -- I'd give it a B, too. I definitely didn't like it as much as Fargo or No Country for Old Men, but it was entertaining for people who like the Coen brothers' style. The Mormon line you reference got a pretty big laugh at the theater here in Houston.

Some guy brought his son who looked like he was about eight years old to the movie. Hard for me to believe anybody would subject a kid of that age to that type of movie. What is wrong with some people?

[Gidget]

Originally Posted by YOhio

Malkovich has some serious issues with our church. He gave an interview once where he mentioned getting slobbered all over by an LDS guy on a cross country flight. Apparantly it was enough to turn him off from the gospel forever.

or at least until he dies, then we'll reel him in.

[marsupial]

Originally Posted by CardiacCoug

I agree with your analysis completely -- I'd give it a B, too. I definitely didn't like it as much as Fargo or No Country for Old Men, but it was entertaining for people who like the Coen brothers' style. The Mormon line you reference got a pretty big laugh at the theater here in Houston.

Some guy brought his son who looked like he was about eight years old to the movie. Hard for me to believe anybody would subject a kid of that age to that type of movie. What is wrong with some people?

I did not like Fargo or No Country--they were too disturbing for my tastes. I really liked Burn After Reading, more than O Brother and Raising Arizona. No one laughed in Mississippi at the Mormon joke and I was disappointed that I already knew it was coming.

[Flystripper]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

George Clooney only acts stupid?

I didn't know that.

Oh brother. Can you give it a rest? This is an entertainment thread.