Review of Burn After Reading (2008) by Josh E — 30 Jul 2012

With a handful of some of my favorite actors united in one big extravaganza directed by my favorite pair of directors (the oft-wonderful Coen brothers), my expectations for the dramedy BAR were, shall we say, quite elevated. That is probably the same reason why the movie left me with such a bittersweet aftertaste.

While BAR is in many ways a perfectly adequate movie, filled with convincing performances by its strong and talented cast, the script is fundamentally squandered potential. The haphazard plot writhes around like a fish on land for an hour and fourty minutes, oblivious to where it is or what to do with itself. Is it involving, and occasionally funny to watch? Sure. But when it all ends, the Coens deftly have J.K. Simmons character, the audience mouthpiece, ask the inevitable question: "Why on earth did all of this happen, and why should we care?".

I won't disagree with them for suggesting that the only appropriate answer to that, is a shrug.