The Coen brothers are if nothing else interesting filmmakers although their once fresh formula suffers slightly from repetition. It did not take long for Burn after reading to press a smile to my lips as it’s corny spy vs. spy commedy unfolded before me. It is without a doubt a clever comedy in the best traditional Coen brothers meaning of the word.

But perhaps it is a bit too corney a bit too Coen Brothers(tm) stylish. Brat Pitt plays an over the top caricature of a gym fanatic – but are we watching Brat Pitt break out of the stereotypical Brat Pitt role or a are we watching an over the top gym fanatic? My point is that the choice in casting leaves me without the ability to totally give my self over to the believability of the movie – it just does not trancend as good as if they had chosen a less unique actor. The same basically goes for Frances McDormand’s character an offbeat female gym fanatic with an affinity for netdating and plastic surgery. I was sitting there waiting for her to go “Jaah” all the time.

Well enough of my rantings, Burn after reading is a very entertaining commedy in the best Coen tradition and that alone makes it a great flick.