The Laughs are there. It's up to you to find them.

Rating: 9/10 (25 September 2008)

I've sampled some of the comments on this movie and,while most are quite positive(as this one aims to be as well),the negative comments went something to the tune of this:people acting stupid and situations not making any sense blah blah blah I was bored. This sucks! etc.
Well,folks,did you honestly expect a Coen Bros. suspense/comedy to be linear or NOT over-the-top? Seriously?
Following the monster success of No Country for Old Men,Joel and Ethan roll out a bizarre,wannabe spy comedy---"wannabe" because practically ever member of the central plot are convinced that they're in on something of major government intelligence and sensitivity--that seems to be cloaked in the mundane. To explain the connect among the following characters would,in my mind,be over-indulgent of myself and be risking leaking a spoiler or two: a disgruntled,unemployed CIA point-man(John Malkovich,slow-burning and emotionally irritable as ever),his brittle,cheating wife(Tilda Swinton,pitch perfect);the man she's cheating with(George Clooney),a loopy ladies man who aspires to be an entrepreneur; a strangely insecure and manic fitness trainer(Frances McDormand,in character #877 of her rich array of types she can limn flawlessly);her friend and fellow trainer(Brad Pitt,who you can tell is having fun here),a guy who's emotionally sixteen years old and has an IQ about half that;their boss(Richard Jenkins),a lovestruck sad sack; a bemused KGB man and two utterly confused CIA chiefs(David Rasche and J.K.Simmons,dryly hilarious) all are woven into this tale,patiently inserted into the storyline to make a largely effective and(I think it's safe to say)fairly unique film.
While I cannot quite call this my favorite Coen brothers movie(that distinction would probably go to Raising Arizona,Fargo or The Big Lebowski),it's certainly a strong contribution to the canon. Yes,the story moves at an odd pace,the actions and events can be real head-scratchers and the performances can be very love it/hate it(particularly Pitt's and Clooney's),but the humor is definitely there,and if you can find it you will definitely like--maybe even love--Burn After Reading.