Laugh While Watching

Rating: 8/10 (16 March 2009)

After the disappointing "No Country for Old Men," the Coen brothers come alive in this hilarious black comedy. The cast seems to be having a field day. Malkovich is a riot as a pompous, angry CIA agent who quits his job to write his memoirs. McDormand is rather touching as a woman determined to get plastic surgery while Clooney playfully spoofs his leading man image. Pitt steals the film as a dim-witted blackmailer. The script is absurdly clever and the dialog is full of zingers. Perhaps the most amusing scenes involve CIA agent Rasche trying to explain to superior Simmons what the heck is going on with the multitude of characters and subplots.