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33 reviews
A Crazy Flick!
Very typical of the Coen brothers, who also did 'the Big Lebowski' and 'Fargo.' The movie is all over the place and goes to show that fact is always stranger than fiction. In this film an ex-CIA guy decides to write his memoirs. At the same time his wife is secretly getting ready to divorce him and try for all his $$$. She downloads all his info off his computer onto a disc, including his memoirs, and hands it off to her lawyer. The lawyer gives the disc to a secretary, who is supposed to take it home and copy and print it, but who instead loses it when she stops off for a workout at a gym before going home.
Gym workers Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand find the disc and misinterpret the novel portions as sensitive CIA secret info. They try to use it to blackmail the ex-CIA guy, who isn't interested, so they take it to the Russian embassy, who also aren't interested. Brad and Frances are convinced tho that they have something super secret and worth a lot of money; at least the $40000 Frances needs for her cosmetic surgeries so she'll be more viable and successful at on-line dating.
Enter George Clooney, who is cheating on his wife with the ex-CIA guy's wife, and who at the same time doesn't know his own wife is cheating on him. He meets up with Frances via the above mentioned online dating, because he's also cheating on the woman (the ex-CIA guy's wife) he's been cheating with. He finds out Frances and Brad have the disc.
Also enter J.K. Simmons, who as the CIA director has to try and process all this, and see if there really is anything relevant or sensitive on the ex-CIA guys' disc.
Zany, right? You can't make this stuff up! No spoiler alerts here, but by movie's end several people get shot, or deported, or put in prison, etc. The ex-CIA guy himself goes looney and winds up chasing a guy down the street with an axe, while in his undies and a bath robe.
Lot of use of the F-word in this movie, but no nudity or sex scenes.
If you liked 'Fargo' you'll probably like 'Burn After Reading' too.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: laffingoutloud811
Frances McDormand led.
Great cast that made me chuckle a couple of times the following day. This movie makes the CIA look very incompetent. The Coen brothers wrote and directed. They seldom make a bad movie.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: yourmomlovesmedia
Pay Attention to Details
Great movie from the Cohn Brothers. Adults only because of language, a few scenes, and violence. But believable because of Washington D.C.'s political scene.
Great cast!!
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: wil77051331
Funny if you like Dark Comedy
This movie was called a Comedic Masterpiece, but that comes with a Warning... it is a dark comedy in the style of some other Coen Brothers movies, and you'll love it or hate it depending on what is funny to you. In this case it's the odd characters involved in some CIA "secrets" on the market by a pair of novices, and watched without any understanding by CIA brass.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: gomlilmar
Great Bargain...
Nice to be able to catch up on some classic Cohen Brothers at such a reasonable cost... thank you!
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: second.sale
Very fun/suspenseful romp. But serious and watch John Malkovich. It's delightful!
What a great unexpected spy/surveillance/sex farce movie! Brad Pitt should have gotten an award for his performance. It is delightful. Also George Clooney was really really great too.
Get this movie and add it to your collection.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: second.sale
classic Coen brother tale
a convoluted Coen brother tale of screwed up people who erroniously think they have a disk of classified secrets that's actually just junk. Not stellar, but acceptable performances by all involved.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: *gopeachy*
Awsome buy
Great movie with outstanding characters, and actors. Loved all the twists and turns and the performances. DVD, excellent condition as specified.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: wackowhale
LAST CALL!!
Too many rum and cokes to get into this movie. Need to watch again to see if it makes sense.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: kingcotten
Coen Brothers at their best.
This is a Coen Brothers movie, need I say more. It is excellent, most enjoyable and a lot of fun.
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: alpinab7