Burn After Watching

The Coen Brothers don't make the easiest of films to watch. A lot of patience is needed as many plot threads are introduced with barely any connection between them. As I don't have that much patience, this probably explains why I took a long time to start liking Burn After Reading.

Because there is a lot going on, one can't simply summarise the story into one line. Yes, there is a CIA source of information that is used, but that is only part of it. There's also the man who's cheating on his wife (and is quite creative at building things). There's a search for love while being blind to right under the nose. And there's divorce...

They do all tie into each other. One does have to give the Coen brothers a bow for their skill at crossing the story lines, with a nice tie up at the end where there is the message of what the overall message of the movie is. And I liked what that was. A last humourous touch.

The movie was written with the lead actors in mind, so it's hard not to see the actors instead of the characters. Still that does keep them distinct, and George Clooney, Brad Pitt and John Malkovich will always be recognisable. (Although I did expect to see Tilda Swinton as a blonde.)

Another fine example of the Coen brothers work.

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