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A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

post #1 of 40
1/4/09 at 4:52pm
Thread Starter 
Burn after Reading, a return by the Brothers Coen to their "idiot" genre, follows a bunch of likable loons around Washington DC and environs for 96 entertaining minutes.

The folks in Burn after Reading are not people that one should consider inviting home for dinner, or marrying one's eldest daughter.

Can following idiots around for 96 minutes be entertaining? If the guides are the Coens, yes.

BaR is good escapist entertainment, brought to Blu-ray as a quality disc. Will this film be discussed in fifty years. Probably not. But for the moment, get it while it's hot on pretty Blu.

RAH
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post #2 of 40
1/4/09 at 8:34pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Well I certainly respect your opinion Robert but this movie
is a rental before a purchase especially a blind purchase.

The Loons of this movie are hardly likable and there isn't much
entertaining in this movie except for David Rasche and J.K. Simmons
and their Government idiot characters.

Even John Malkovich was barely tolerable as a, well whatever it was he was supposed to be.

the whole movie seems to be nothing but a set-up for a
bad punch line that is the very last scene of the move.

the punch line was funny, the joke was poorly executed.

I really enjoy about every single Joel and Ethan Coen film, this one just
doesn't work for me.
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post #3 of 40
1/5/09 at 12:33am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

I thought it was a decent enough film. Another bit of weirdness from the Coens. There were a couple of turns in the film that I found mildly surprising. Whether the characters were likable or not is debatable, but I will agree that they were loony.
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post #4 of 40
1/5/09 at 2:33am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

RAH, this is the first time I have ever disagreed with your opinion
of a film. This was pure torture to watch. Except for a single scene
involving a chair, not one funny nor interesting moment was to be
found. A total waste of two hours.
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post #5 of 40
1/5/09 at 3:02am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

I watched this film during its theatrical run and liked it a lot, typical Coen Brothers. I will buy the BRD when I can find it on sale.






Crawdaddy
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post #6 of 40
1/5/09 at 6:03am
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

As I noted, IMHO this is not by any means a great film, but rather, an interesting moment in the occasionally odd Coen pantheon. Following the direction of a filmmaker's work can be extremely interesting as they hit different genres and styles through their careers. This is NOT Oh, Brother..., and may well be strictly for followers of the Coen's work.

IMDB reports the budget at 37 million, and opening US weekend at 19.1, and a worldwide gross at 139. Someone is going to see it, possibly based upon cast.
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post #7 of 40
1/5/09 at 6:55am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
This is NOT Oh, Brother..., and may well be strictly for followers of the Coen's work.
This is what I've been saying to the renters who ask at my video store.

Also many people say they're renting because it has a lot of good actors.
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post #8 of 40
1/5/09 at 7:39am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

I enjoyed this movie. Yeah, it wasn't as good as other Coen films but it was still enjoyable. Brad Pitt was awesome in his role.

It was better than the supposed "classic" Bonnie and Clyde...


As for the disc, I thought the PQ was pretty good. I thought I saw a bit of EE but it may have just been in the source and an effect from the filming.
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post #9 of 40
1/5/09 at 7:42am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
As I noted, IMHO this is not by any means a great film, but rather, an interesting moment in the occasionally odd Coen pantheon. Following the direction of a filmmaker's work can be extremely interesting as they hit different genres and styles through their careers. This is NOT Oh, Brother..., and may well be strictly for followers of the Coen's work.

IMDB reports the budget at 37 million, and opening US weekend at 19.1, and a worldwide gross at 139. Someone is going to see it, possibly based upon cast.
The Coen Brothers films are not for everybody. Matter of fact, you will have diverse opinions among fans of the Coen films that might like No Country for Old Men, but don't care for Fargo as examples.
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post #10 of 40
1/5/09 at 7:55am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
Matter of fact, you will have diverse opinions among fans of the Coen films that might like No Country for Old Men, but don't care for Fargo as examples.
Burn After Reading and Fargo have a lot in common. If you take Marge Gunderson out of Fargo, they're almost the same film.

The Coen Bros. said it best when they were accepting the Oscar as best director for No Country: They've been doing it the same way since they started. Some of the films resonate with a wider audience, and some don't. But they're all immediately identifiable as something no one else could have made.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Loregnum
It was better than the supposed "classic" Bonnie and Clyde...
Give it a rest. Or at least go back to the Bonnie and Clyde thread and address the many responses to your initial critique.
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post #11 of 40
1/5/09 at 9:35am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

I highly enjoyed this movie. The girlfriend...not so much. She didn't dislike it, it just didn't resonate with her. I can see how this film may polarize even die-hard Coen fans.
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post #12 of 40
1/5/09 at 4:59pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

If you go into this movie expecting to respond to jokes and punchlines you are not going to get the comedy you expect. Everything that made me laugh in this film related to the character's attitudes, responses,reactions, obsessions and behaviors. My biggest kick was laughing several times and I didn't even know why, which almost never happens.
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post #13 of 40
1/5/09 at 5:35pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

I thought this film was very funny at times, and am glad to have added the Blu-ray disc to my collection. Thanks for the review, Mr. Harris!

- Steve
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post #14 of 40
1/5/09 at 6:04pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Loregnum
It was better than the supposed "classic" Bonnie and Clyde...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben
Give it a rest. Or at least go back to the Bonnie and Clyde thread and address the many responses to your initial critique.

Honestly. It's tired and troll-worthy. It's one thing to take a stand and defend your position in the appropriate thread, it's another to just keep throwing one-note darts all over the forum for no apparent reason.
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post #15 of 40
1/5/09 at 6:41pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
I highly enjoyed this movie. The girlfriend...not so much.

Carlo, have you considered getting a new girlfriend?
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post #16 of 40
1/5/09 at 8:27pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

I rented this one on Blu, and the wife and I both enjoyed it. I tend to agree w/ RAH and others who enjoyed it. Certainly not a must-have in my collection, but I'd consider picking it up at some point if it hits the bargain bin or something.

_Man_
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post #17 of 40
1/6/09 at 10:39am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Thanks Robert...I'm hoping to rent this on Blu-ray within the next week or so. Same with No Country...

George
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post #18 of 40
1/7/09 at 3:40am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Well, the Blu-Ray looks nice and the movie clearly is not for everybody, but then which film is ?

I am looking forward to watch it more than once as that is what made Intolerable Cruelty kind of grow on me, I have a doubt though that this will be the case with BAR.
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post #19 of 40
1/7/09 at 4:47am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

I went in with no expectations and enjoyed this tremendously. For me it was a breath of fresh air compared to the by-the-numbers focus group driven crap that Hollywood usually churns out.

I consider it one of the best films of 2008 (so far).
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post #20 of 40
1/7/09 at 9:22am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Wow, overall a lot of mixed reactions. Can't wait to see it personally. Having seen most of the Coen's (No Country For Old Men is also on my list) they've yet to disappoint me. Intolerable Cruelty weren't bad, but less good than the other films.
Is it more in line of The Hudsucker Proxy? That one is also underrated, and I absolutely loved it.
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post #21 of 40
1/7/09 at 11:46am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Borst
Is it more in line of The Hudsucker Proxy? That one is also underrated, and I absolutely loved it.

I never understood a lot of the negative stuff that was said about Hudsucker. The scene where Tim Robbins gets his job indoctrination is a classic.
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post #22 of 40
1/7/09 at 1:43pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Gallagher
I never understood a lot of the negative stuff that was said about Hudsucker.
I think it was the film's profile. The budget was the biggest they'd ever had, and Silver Pictures was one of the production companies. It was also their first film after winning the Palme D'Or at Cannes for Barton Fink. So for the first time, they were no longer cult filmmakers flying under the radar -- and all the critics had their knives poised and sharpened. The film deserved better.
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post #23 of 40
1/7/09 at 2:50pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben
I think it was the film's profile. The budget was the biggest they'd ever had, and Silver Pictures was one of the production companies. It was also their first film after winning the Palme D'Or at Cannes for Barton Fink. So for the first time, they were no longer cult filmmakers flying under the radar -- and all the critics had their knives poised and sharpened. The film deserved better.
Ain't that the truth! Hudsucker is my 2nd-favorite Coen Bros film after Lebowski.
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post #24 of 40
1/9/09 at 10:31am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

I liked the movie alot. It taps into the D.C. paranoia quite well. In D.C. everybody thinks their neighbhors are spying on them for whatever security organization that suits their imagination. Then, there's the characters that I completely identify with. There's people I know that I can easily equate to this odd lot. We all must have know folks that aren't very far removed from the main characters here. I've known women as obcessed, well close, as Frances McDormand's character.

I think it's an above average film. Just because it's not as good as their best films are to some people doesn't mean it sucks. It's just another good film by them to me. I'll rewatch it many times, I'm sure.
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post #25 of 40
1/11/09 at 1:26pm

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

The score sounded good.
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post #26 of 40
1/12/09 at 7:43am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

My review of this is WAY overdue, sorry! It should be out soon!

I kinda liked it but you have to give yourself over to the Coen's tortured and distorted reality.

Sam
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post #27 of 40
1/12/09 at 10:47am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

wow, interesting thread. i thought this movie was a masterpiece. Very much on par with Rules of the Game. I think maybe the reason so many people don't connect is because the characters are so unlikable so stupid and so American. In many ways it's as freightening as "No Country" perhaps even more so, because these people are us. The Coens are holding a mirror up to contemporary america and it appears not many like what they see.
"She's not a moron. She's a nice lady"
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post #28 of 40
1/12/09 at 11:52am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by rvanward
The Coens are holding a mirror up to contemporary america and it appears not many like what they see.
I think you're reading alot into the movie and its intent. Maybe you're right but I think it's just a 'dumb' comedy rather than a statement about the modern day American.
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post #29 of 40
1/12/09 at 11:56am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by rvanward
. In many ways it's as frightening as "No Country" perhaps even more so, because these people are us. The Coens are holding a mirror up to contemporary america and it appears not many like what they see.
"She's not a moron. She's a nice lady"
\

I thought this was funnier then the movie.
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post #30 of 40
1/13/09 at 7:43am

Re: A few words about...™ Burn after Reading -- in Blu-ray

glad you enjoyed it. Much less thought went into it than into the movie.
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