Patriotic colors, impressive shots of Washington D.C., and a series of murders by the most bumbling bunch of characters this reviewer has probably ever seen. Nothing in this latest creation from the Coen Brothers is typical- unless of course you have become accustomed to their morbid, wry comic sensibilities. 
The film starts off with an over-dramatic shot of the earth, the camera coming closer and closer, ending in the CIA office of Washington D.C. John Malkovich immediately impresses as the constantly angry and brooding Osbourne Cox (he’s being fired in this first scene and isn’t taking it well). In fact, the most impressive element of this movie is its all star cast. They all play such zany characters that the Coens seemed to have rejected exercising much muscle in the way of camera angles and tighter editing.

At the beginning there are long shots where all that fills the frame are the faces of these offbeat caricatures. And it makes sense. Better to keep the focus on them because the story, for the most part, is joyless. It is simply about people chasing their desires and in someway or another not getting them. Perhaps thats the message. Perhaps the Coens want us to think the next time we start feeling selfish, but if their interviews are any indication, they couldn’t care less. And thats where I think ‘Burn’ lost me. This reviewer wants to be a little more engaged when he goes to the theater. As one friend noted, the movies cost a lot more now a days. We shouldn’t be paying a lot more for a lot less.

 

But on the more positive side, you have to respect the Coens for not following their Oscar winning ‘No Country’ with some pretentious art film or high intensity action film. They chose the route of the spy comedy, and what a little travelled path that is. As shallow and contrite popcorn fare, and yet somehow funny, this film succeeds. You won’t have to like the characters (Pitt is the only truly likeable character. Perhaps because he is the only one not motivated by greed.), you’ll just have to endure their silly antics as they chase cars around Washington D.C., go to the Russians to try to blackmail the CIA, and get themselves way over their heads. Its not a happy little tale, but it can be funny.