MOVIE REVIEW: Burn After Reading

Like lukewarm soup...



Surprisingly, I didn't like this film as much as I thought I would.

The acting is superb however, with Brad Pitt and John Malkovich clearly stealing the show. George Clooney was good, but I don't really care for him as much as a "bad guy" which one could argue he was in this movie.

But aside from the acting, the story (though a great concept) just lags behind the performances of this all-star cast. I mainly blame this on part of the directing, as the pace of the film just seems to drag on incredibly S-L-O-W.

At times, I was thinking, okay, this is going to pick up sooner or later, but it just really doesn't. I think the previews make this film out to be a faster-paced flick than it really is...and a much funnier film at that.

I mean, sure there were clever lines here and there (and great dialogue too) but it wasn't nearly as funny as I thought it could be. Some of the scenes are actually quite sad.

So all in all, I guess I was anticipating a different film than what I received. Not a bad film, just not a great film like previous Coen brothers dark comedies such (i.e. "The Big Lebowski" and "Intolerable Cruelty").

It was kind of like eating lukewarm soup. You get the taste you were expecting, just not at the right temperature.
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(Advance) MOVIE REVIEW: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Grows on you like a catchy tune...



So I went to see an advanced screening of this on Tuesday and I have to admit, I really enjoyed this film and I think you will too once it's released. The best way I can describe this film is quirky.

It's really different in it's setup (which at the beginning I didn't really care for) but then as it got going I started to really get into it. And then I thought, "wait, I know what this reminds me of–an 80s cult classic!"

I'm referring to the films of that time that really didn't have a solid one-track plot; they were just kind of all over the place–sorta strange, sorta goofy, but in the end it all came together and made sense somehow...and left you with a slew of memorable scenes and one-liners. This movie is like that.

You can read a synopsis of the movie online, but it won't clue you in entirely. Since there's so many little side stories thrown into this film, it will hold your attention for the duration and leave you satisfied at the end. But what you think is the main plot in the beginning doesn't really become the "main plot" per se.

But, I warn you that just like in some of those cult classics, there are are a few scenes in this picture that are quite repulsive. I won't give anything away, but you won't want to see this film if you can't stomach scenes involving bonding with the toilet when one is drunk.

There is a part in which the repercussions of such an action will carry through subtly throughout the rest of the picture. And each time this action is brought up it will make you cringe collectively with everyone else in the audience.

Without giving too much away, let's just say, don't offer your already chewed piece of gum to anyone in the theater. Not that you would, but, well...you'll see what I mean.

As for Michael Cera and the typical character he plays; this role is not unlike any other. But what I was really surprised by was the performance given by Kat Dennings. I haven't seen this actress in any other film prior to this one, but now I'm going to have to seek her out. Very highly impressed.

For you musical junkies out there, the movie obviously centers around music in which case the soundtrack certainly does it justice. I'm not much of an indie type guy personally so I didn't recognize many of the songs, but I dug the soundtrack as a whole for sure.

So all in all, this film will infinitely grow on you like you were humming a catchy tune you just heard off the radio coming to the theater. Check it out if you enjoy quirky romantic comedies.

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