Clever film...unlikable characters.

Rating: 6/10 (8 June 2009)

When I first watched this film I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. After friends recommended 'The Big Lebowski' as a film I would enjoy I can honestly say I did and became an instant fan of the Coen brothers work such as the brilliantly tense 'No country for old men'. However the difference between the two films is the more i watch 'The Big Lebowski'the more I enjoyed the hidden messages and characters, this is the opposite for 'Burn After Reading'. I have watched the film on several occasions and increasingly come to despise the characters depicted. I understand this may be the point the Coen brothers wanted to portray in their film but it almost becomes unbearable to watch knowing that in all likelihood there are people in this world as shallow and devoid of any redeeming qualities.
Brad Pitt is outstanding as a brainless gym worker and Malkovich as the foulmouthed agent is hilarious and a joy to watch, however Frances McDormands character is sometimes hard to watch as her character becomes increasingly grating to the viewer to the point that she overshadows the comedic value of the film.