Interesting but uneven screwball comedy

Rating: 7/10 (22 December 2008)

'Burn After Reading' is an interesting but uneven screwball comedy about greed, vanity, and the CIA. If that sounds pretty random, that's because it is. The film struggled to find an appropriate tone, juxtaposing funny and serious elements haphazardly. One might characterize it as one of the Coen brothers' minor works. However, it doesn't seem that way given the all-star cast. Thankfully, the efforts of Pitt, McDormand, Clooney, Swinton, and Malkovich aren't completely wasted. There are plenty of laughs and decent performances all around. Seeing Brad Pitt act like a tool is worth the price of admission. However, in the end, the viewer is left with an inconsequential, so what?