Burn After Reading movie still
Burn After Reading movie poster

Burn After Reading (2008)

Comedy, Crime, Drama

Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Writers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich


"Intelligence is relative."

Burn After Reading is a surprising dark comedy, written, directed and produced by the Coen Brothers.

The movie is a perfect balance between comedy and social satire, and shows how a simple misinterpretation can have an unforeseen effect on people.

The story is as bizarre as it is simple, we have state secrets catapulted in the world of gyms, frequented by men and women in full midlife crisis. We can witness the misadventures of an ex CIA spy, a treasury agent, a hyper-active fitness instructor and a woman who is trying to re-invent herself. The characters are all connected to one another and their behavior is dictated by a chain of events that has no rationality, no one really knows what they're doing or what the hell is going on.

While Burn After Reading is certainly a comedy, it's by no means dumb. It’s probably one of the smartest movies made about human stupidity.

Plot summary from IMDb: (show more)


Awards: Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 17 nominations.
Runtime: 96 min
R

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