Burn After Reading is a film directed by the Cohen Brothers. So this movie is basically a mess. And people die. Welcome! But the film is also a very funny satire, and, what’s more, it’s easy to watch. First of all, the actors deliver a great performance. I think the character I enjoyed the most was Katie Cox (Tilda Swinton), who does an amazing job of being a constantly exasperated and scornful woman/bitch. She is so pissed at everything that it’s pitiful; she makes you realize how silly it is to be angry at petty things.
While always entertaining, the film also manages to effectively criticize the society we live in. The movie mainly denounces two things: superficiality within our society, and the ineptitude of the entities that govern us.
While always entertaining, the film also manages to effectively criticize the society we live in. The movie mainly denounces two things: superficiality within our society, and the ineptitude of the entities that govern us.
The first criticism concerns both the importance we attach to our personal appearance and our expectations for others. We see Linda (Frances McDormand) working at a fitness center, but definitely not working out, and struggling to get money to pay for cosmetic surgeries. Crucial ones, of course. Because, let’s be serious, who can find love or be appealing with a belly, small boobs, or perceivable wrinkles? Nonsense! Get me that surgeon! The storyline of the movie is actually her journey towards achieving this goal, be it dangerous or illegal. The longer it goes on, the crazier and funnier it gets.
Although she is not satisfied with her own appearance, Linda judges men based on theirs. We see her wandering through a park gauging men as if she was in a supermarket and wondering what she was going to eat that night. But appearance is not the only criterion; no. The man should be funny, too! No that will be all, thank you.
For the second criticism, the film seems to be asking: who have we put at the head of our countries? And answering: well, pretty incompetent people! When the situation gets out of hand, the highest officials in control appear completely powerless. Worse, they don’t really mind it. Should you die in a way that embarrasses the government, your corpse would be discretly disposed of. So, well, let’s hope you do not.
Overall this movie is a really great time, worth seeing for its quality and fun; really good actors (John Malkovitch, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, etc), crazy situations, and assured laughs.
Grade: B+
Although she is not satisfied with her own appearance, Linda judges men based on theirs. We see her wandering through a park gauging men as if she was in a supermarket and wondering what she was going to eat that night. But appearance is not the only criterion; no. The man should be funny, too! No that will be all, thank you.
For the second criticism, the film seems to be asking: who have we put at the head of our countries? And answering: well, pretty incompetent people! When the situation gets out of hand, the highest officials in control appear completely powerless. Worse, they don’t really mind it. Should you die in a way that embarrasses the government, your corpse would be discretly disposed of. So, well, let’s hope you do not.
Overall this movie is a really great time, worth seeing for its quality and fun; really good actors (John Malkovitch, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, etc), crazy situations, and assured laughs.
Grade: B+
RSS Feed
