Saturday, September 13, 2008

Burn After Reading

Just saw Burn After Reading, the Coen brothers' new movie. I give it a B. The employees at a gym called Hardbodies find a CD with what appears to be secret information about the CIA. They try to return it to its owner, at a price. Craziness ensues. It takes place in Washington, D.C. It had quite a few amusing moments, especially toward the end. John Malkovich was very good and I loved Brad Pitt in it. George Clooney gives a strange performance, with a lot of physical ticks, in a role that isn't very likeable. Actually none of the characters are likeable, except perhaps the gym manager. Tilda Swinton played Malkovich's wife and Clooney's lover. She seems to be making a late career specialization in cold suit-wearing bitches. (e.g. Michael Clayton) Anyway, it was fun, but not great.

Of the previews, I thought Body of Lies with Leonardo DiCaprio looked good, and the Harvey Milk bio pic with Sean Penn in the lead role.

It seems that you're forced to watch an advertisement for the National Guard whenever you go to a movie. The one they've got on now seems to equate driving NASCAR with patriotism.

No comments: