Pitt and McDormand are great, but I wish the Coens would share the whole story with the audience

Rating: 6/10 (7 February 2016)

Its harmless Coen brothers "fun" - I put "fun" in quotation marks because whilst it is easy watching and light, I was pretty bored for a lot of it and it definitely meanders like most Coen brothers films. Its not a lot to ask to have a cohesive ending. That's what I can't stand about Coen brothers films, they all end like an afterthought. The Big Lebowski ends without the Dude getting a rug back, Fargo ends with half the murders unsolved and both Burn After Reading and No Country for Old Men both have major confrontations go down off screen. Why do people forgive Fant4stic but throw praise at the Coen brothers?
Burn After Reading is redeemed, of course, by some great acting. Brad Pitt is a lovable goof and Francis McDormand gives one of my favourite performances as a vain, plastic surgery obsessed gym employee. I found Malkovich at his most Malkovichey - overacted shouting with contorted facial expressions. That doesn't prevent him being a likable character, and he gets us in his corner early on. I found George Clooney to be overdoing it a lot and Tilda Swinton was a bit bland and stuffy. I would've loved more of Richard Jenkins (who excels in a small role), Elizabeth Marvel and J.K. Simmons.
I enjoyed the resolution of the plot even if it would be nice of the Coen brothers to include me in these major events. The intertwining stories were fun, and there's some great moments of tension. But overall, Burn After Reading is kinda forgettable.