Excellent follow-up to "No Country for Old Men"

Rating: 8/10 (26 January 2016)

How do you follow up a dark drama masterpiece like "No Country for Old Men"? With an excellent comedy-drama, "Burn after reading", and in a very short space of time. When most directors would be happy to take a break after making one of history's great movies, and winning 4 Oscars for the effort, the Coen brothers immediately get back in the studio and make a great quirky comedy-drama. Like they did after "Fargo", with "The Big Lebowski". (Though I feel The Big Lebowski surpassed Fargo, while Burn after Reading doesn't beat No Country for Old Men).
Great mix of comedy and drama, though sometimes the two do get a bit mixed up and you don't know whether to laugh or be shocked.
Excellent performances from an all-star cast including George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton. Brad Pitt steals the show though, in his over-the-top performance as a hyper- energetic vacuous fitness dork.