“Burn After Reading” is a dark comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It was released in 2008 and features an ensemble cast that includes George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt, and Richard Jenkins.
The story begins with Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich), a disgruntled CIA analyst fired from his job due to a drinking problem. In retaliation, he writes a memoir detailing his life and career. His cold and unfaithful wife, Katie Cox (Tilda Swinton), is having an affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney), a paranoid and womanizing Treasury agent.
Katie decided to file for divorce, and, on the advice of her lawyer, she copied all of Osbourne’s financial records and personal files onto a CD. However, this CD is accidentally left at a gym, Hardbodies, where it is discovered by two employees: the dim-witted but ambitious personal trainer Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) and his co-worker, the desperate-for-cash Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand), who dreams of affording multiple cosmetic surgeries.
Believing the CD contains highly sensitive government information, Chad and Linda concoct a plan to blackmail Osbourne, hoping to extract a hefty sum of money. Their bumbling attempts to extort Osbourne lead them into a complex web of mistaken identities, miscommunications, and escalating violence. Harry’s peculiarities and paranoia throughout the film add another layer of chaos to the story.
As the situation spirals out of control, the characters’ lives intersect unexpectedly and often absurdly, leading to a series of darkly comedic and tragic events. The film culminates in a series of rapid-fire, shocking twists, leaving the CIA, represented by a bemused senior officer (J.K. Simmons), to piece together the absurd sequence of events.
“Burn After Reading” is noted for its sharp, satirical take on the intelligence community, human vanity, and the randomness of life.
The Other Cinema 