The Coens' cold, callous and calculating black comedy. Superb.

Rating: 8/10 (25 October 2008)

Burn After Reading (2008)
After the violent and poetic 'No Country For Old Men' which won 4 Oscars, the Coen Brothers seem revitalised and come back with this intelligently written, heartless and hilarious black comedy. Burn After Reading is pretty much as good as it can be.
When the disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent is found by two 'lightheaded' gym employees, they attempt to sell it for a reward. Little did they know that their actions will have grave consequences involving a variety of characters (including even the Russians and CIA bosses).
John Malkovich is the frustrated CIA agent Osbourne Cox, his wife, a stone cold bitch who by the way happens to be a paediatrician is Tilda Swinton, her lover George Clooney who is a Treasury Executive. Other characters include Brad Pitt as a stupid gym employee and Frances MacDormand as his associate. The casts includes other known faces such as JK Simmons and Richard Jenkins.
Burn After Reading is one of the best films of this 'cinematic year' and has a good chance for some Oscar nominations next year. A supporting actor nomination for John Malkovich, who is superb; an editing nomination and most likely another Original Screenplay nomination for the Coens.
A comedy about infidelity, the cruel nature of humanity and the stupidity of intelligence forces.
Great fun.
8/10