He Said ... She Said

He Said: I love Joel and Ethan Coen, the director brothers that recently won an Academy Award for “No Country For Old Men.”  I cannot think of one of their movies that I did not like. I used to say that “O Brother Where Art Thou” was my favorite, but now it’s “Burn After Reading.”
The story is simple enough: a CIA agent leaves a disc with “top secret” information in a gym, and two of the gym’s employees, Shawnee’s own Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, find it and see it as an opportunity to blackmail the agent. George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and John Malkovich round out the terrific cast. The film is hysterical and moves along very quickly. The message in the movie is great and probably more true than we would like to admit. I fully expect there to be a few Academy Award nominations from this movie. Even though it is loaded with a great cast, Pitt steals the show. His performance is one of the funniest I have seen in a long time.
My only caution regarding the film would be its language. If you are easily offended by harsh language, do not see this film. If not, go see it and support Brad and all his kids.
Grade: A+

She Said: Some of the comedy in “Burn After Reading” is a bit dark and I found myself laughing at what some might call an inappropriate time. In fact, I was surprised that, besides one other person, I was the only one laughing out loud. This is one the most intelligent comedies I’ve seen.  It’s a look at our so-called “intelligence” agencies and the “intelligent” ways that information is handled. It’s smart and funny and the acting is excellent. I agree that Brad Pitt steals the show.
Don’t go expecting to be spoon-fed, because you won’t get that in this film. Just go expecting to laugh and don’t be afraid to laugh, even if it doesn’t seem appropriate.
Grade: A