Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading

2008

In this dark comedy from Joel and Ethan Coen, ousted CIA official Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) loses his recently penned memoir into the hands of a pair of moronic gym employees (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, in a Golden Globe-nominated role) who use it to try to turn a profit. George Clooney and Tilda Swinton round out the cast of this irreverent farce, which was nominated for a Best Picture (Comedy) Golden Globe.

Intelligence is relative.

JBscale
70
Very Good

Film Detail

Genre
Comedy - Crime
Length
1 hr. 36 mins.
US Theatrical Release
September 12, 2008
US Box Office
$60,338,891 (#1505 of 7074)
Global Office
$163,720,069 (#1048 of 3929)
Rating
R
Restricted
Pervasive Language, Some Sexual Content, Violence

Collection Detail

Release Method
Digital Only
Aquired Format
Fandango at Home Fandango at Home
Aspect Ratio
WS 1.85:1
Audio
English: DD+ 5.1
Studio
Universal Studios
Released
December 21, 2008
Acquired Date
August 12, 2012
Times Seen
1 Time
Last Watched
October 3, 2008

Actors

George Clooney
George Clooney
Frances McDormand
Frances McDormand
John Malkovich
John Malkovich
Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton
Richard Jenkins
Richard Jenkins
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt
J.K. Simmons
J.K. Simmons
Elizabeth Marvel
Elizabeth Marvel
David Rasche
David Rasche
Olek Krupa
Olek Krupa
Michael Countryman
Michael Countryman
Kevin Sussman
Kevin Sussman
J.R. Horne
J.R. Horne
Hamilton Clancy
Hamilton Clancy
Armand Schultz
Armand Schultz

Directors

Joel Coen
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen
Ethan Coen

Producers

Joel Coen
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen
Ethan Coen

Writers

Joel Coen
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen
Ethan Coen

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No Country for Old Men90

2007

Barton Fink82

1991

Raising Arizona81

1987

Miller's Crossing83

1990

Hudsucker Proxy, The65

1994

Serious Man, A83

2009

True Grit84

2010

User Reviews

  • The Coen Brothers bang out another great comedy. After their latest attempts of comedy with The Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty, I was a bit worried they had lost their comedy chops a bit; but they've returned to great form with this one. Also great to see John Malkovich in a meaty role again. Oh yeah, and Brad Pitt can still do no wrong, man I love-hate that guy...

    2.13.2009 by biglummox (9/10)

Ratings

JB Users
90
Superior
RT Fresh Certified
78%
Tomatometer
245 votes
RT Hot
65%
Popcornmeter
20,319 votes
METASCORE
63
37 votes
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
361,112 votes

Additional Info

  1. IMDb
  2. Official Website
  3. Kids-in-Mind
  4. Common Sense Media