Don't burn this, watch it again!

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2009)

I find that a second viewing of any Coen brothers' film helps me settle into that particular story's groove and overall, I enjoy it much more than the first time. The initial impression is we were thrown a curveball when expecting a fastball down the middle. And this certainly applies to "Burn After Reading".
This comedy is very funny and those who aren't hip to the Coen trip will probably not enjoy it as much as their core audience. Espionage gets turned back assward into the harsh winds of adult games like infidelity and social posturing. A never funnier Brad Pitt is the dimbulb that lights up this crazy ensemble and his colleagues Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins get to be most effective playing ordinary folks who are in way over their heads.
George Clooney is too often expected to be Mr. Smooth in many of his roles. Here, he'll entice the ladies and also disgust them with his "how the hell did this guy get that job?" role. The man whose top priority is getting a run in before hitting the sheets at night gets much more than he bargained for.
John Malkovich is brilliant, as always. I hope he works with the Coens again soon. His over the hill bitter lemon of a male finds himself hating everything in the world and not much good can come from the dark cloud his brain is immersed by.
The Coens may be guilty of many things, but repeating themselves isn't one of them.