Focus Features has released a red band movie trailer for Burn After Reading. Written and directed by The Coen Brothers, this new dark-spy comedy stars Academy Award nominee John Malkovich as an ousted CIA official, whose memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand) intent on exploiting their find. Also featuring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins. It looks like the Coens have hit another home run. Could Burn after Reading be to No Country for Old Men what The Big Lebowski was to Fargo? As long as its not another Ladykillers, I’ll be happy. Watch the trailer below and tell me what you think in the comments!
You can watch the trailer in High Definition on Apple. Burn After Reading will hit theaters on September 12th 2008.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I think fans of No Country are going to be disappointed. This seems to be going back to their Ladykillers type material, which isnt a bad thing at all, Ladykillers was hilarious, but people who only know the Coens from No Country (I’d say 75%) and havent been following the them their entire carrer wont really understand this movie and will condemn it.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
This looks amazing. Great cast, most of which are playing roles slightly off from their norm, great comedy (from the scenes they show) and overall good feelings from this.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
fuck yeah! i love the coen’s comedy… i like how they can flip-flop between brutal drama and zany comedy within a year.
what’s the song in the trailer?
May 29th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
This looks very lebowski-esque.
THE DUDE ABIDES!!!!
May 29th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
looks very cool. i got a feeling pitt will meet an abrupt end in this film.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I doesnt look like The Big Lebowski at all Tom. I dont know how you would come to that conclusion other than knowing that the Coens did that movie too, but this is totally like The Ladykillers:
“You brought your bitch…TO THE WAFFLEHUT!”
May 29th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
All I could think of was, “Wheres the f***in money Lebowski?!” after the exchange in the car.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
this looks likes Pitt’s best charter in a while
remember 12 monkeys ?
May 29th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Looks awesome but gotta be honest had to watch it a couple times before i understood what the hell was going on.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Great trailer. I echo cbabes’ sentiments - the Coens’ versatility is really what impresses me most. Within 2 years to go from a brooding, moral thriller (No Country) to what looks like a goofball-style comedy about CIA memoirs? Brilliant.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Anybody notice that this trailer credits the Coen Bros. as the CREATORS of No Country For Old Men?
I think Cormac McCarthy would have something to say about that.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I think it looks pretty good. I really don’t think it looks like Lebowski or Ladykillers to be honest.
Nice to see Clooney and Swinton team up again.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
The song is “Grounds for Divorce” by Elbow.
This movie looks excellent; the humor reminds me a lot of The Big Lebowski (and a little bit of Intolerable Cruelty, though that might just be because of George Clooney.) Can’t wait for september.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Weird-not for me.Looks like Ladykillers-that stunk to high heaven!Intolerable Cruelty-please no!
May 29th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
The song that plays at the end, what is that one called? It is so catchy! and this looks great!
May 29th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
What Lionfood said.
Hope the movie is as good as the trailer.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I thought that looked good!
May 29th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Very lebowski like to me. An unlikely character getting mixed up into some grand scheme. Lots of players, lots of ins, lots of outs.
Ill have a white russian
May 29th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
This looks hilarious!! Are they really screening it at The Venice Film Festival?
May 29th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
This looks like the sequel to Charlie Wilson’s war. Brad Pitt is Magnanimous
May 29th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
If that’s not a homerun, then that’s one of the best trailers I’ve seen in a while.
This film already looks like an instant classic. One thing I love about the Coens next to their film style, is their casting, They always choose the most diverse people for their films (Sledge Hammer!) and really make them exhale these great characters.
Definitely seeing this one on opening night.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Huh? I don’t know to make of this at all. Guess I’ll wait for the next trailer.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
looks great!!! love the whole cast.. love the coen’s…
‘that rug really tied the room together dude…’
May 29th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Looks like a smash of Lebowski, Fargo, Ladykillers, and Oh Brother.
I’m seeing it, looks great.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Yes!! I am there!!
May 29th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
this looks so good. two thumbs up to the coen brothers. as usual.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I laughed-out-loud at the trailer. Haven’t done that in a while. I’m there opening night, without question. Looks like a return to Lebowski comedy, which I regard as one of the funniest films ever made.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Sledge Hammer in a Coen Brothers film! I’m there opening for day, baby…
May 29th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Is it just me or does brad pitt look younger in this movie?
zomg the coens are time traveling demons!
That being said, looks like another classic from the bros.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Haha I love when Pitt plays the stupid funny guy. His character in True Romance was golden (though obviously completely different).
Trailer is great. Gives nothing away.
I wonder if Clooney has a contractual agreement that his name must be first in the credits. He didnt seem like the central character…
May 29th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I really you can’t miss with the cast like this. This is going to be brilliant, I’m sure.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:47 am
I co-sign the “Lady Killers” comment, but think it will be the “Raising Arizona” to their “Blood Simple.”
Hell, I would even take another “Intolerable Cruelty.”
May 30th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Though it’s true that Clooney gets front billing, Pitt has the best slot. Recency effect in action, yeah?
May 30th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I smell another coens classic dude!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:50 am
brad pitt’s on a roll
May 30th, 2008 at 2:34 am
Oh thank GOD! Hollywood have made a funny movie at last that I can look forward to and that looks like it’ll be enjoyable.I can’t wait.This looks stunningly hilarious.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Anyone know the music plays at the end of the trailer, please?
May 30th, 2008 at 7:45 am
The song is Spirit’s “I Got a Line On You.”
May 30th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Quintessential Coen brothers.
It made me think of Hudsucker Proxy with an Intolerable Cruelty look.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:30 am
@gaius: I think Cormac McCarthy would have something to say about that.
I’m pretty sure Cormac doesn’t have much to say about anything these days.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:22 am
cormac is alive and well
re: I’m pretty sure Cormac doesn’t have much to say about anything these days
May 30th, 2008 at 9:43 am
This looks great. I like all the actors/ actresses. I’ll pay to see this. I like the Coen brothers stuff.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:55 am
The thing about Raising Arizona is that is was very unique in character style and setting. The Big Lebowski was almost an arthouse film with all the dream-like sequences mixed with the setting of a retro bowling alley. This looks more mainstream, like Intolerable Cruelty. That said, the cast looks to be the best I’ve seen in a long time. Pitt and Malkovich on screen at the same time gives me goosebumps. I’m looking forward to this. Coens + Frances McDormand = awesome. It looks like Pitt is playing William H. Macy in this one.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Dear September,
Please come fast. I am ready to watch this movie.
Thanks,
Ohiofile
May 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
AWESOME. Looking forward to this. I can’t remember the last time Focus Features put out a film that was less than amazing.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I agree, as usual, with Captain Awesome. Home Run!!
I don’t think people are going to see this movie based on the director/writer. They are going to see this movie for Pitt, Clooney, etc. People will not be confused of what this film is, just because they knew about Coen’s from Old Country. It’s pretty easy to see in the first 30 seconds that this is a comedy, and a great one at that. I love the Coen brothers, and I love this kind of comedy.
Can’t wait.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I’m a little worried Pitt’s going to ham it up to the extreme, let his hair down, have some fun while away from Angie and the kids and basically chew scenery left and right — that said, if there’s anyone worth chewing scenery, it’s him.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
yah pitt’s definitely on a roll. if benicio del toro hadn’t done ‘che’ then i’m sure the oscar would’ve been his this year (for benjamin button, that is!).
May 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Gawwwwwddd…..wtf izzit with Clooney? Talk about your box office poisons.
Get rid of him and it might’ve have a chance of opening in the top five.
“The Last Movie Star”….what a f*cking joke.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Clooney is awesome. What’s the problem?
May 30th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
“Get rid of him and it might’ve have a chance of opening in the top five.”
Yes that’s it, they are going to cut all his scenes. Leave them all on the editing room floor. What an awful comment.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
@ diesel
Wow you can predict the oscars from trailers?
May 30th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I predict from this trailer that every actor will win an Oscar and Golden Globe, along with the writers, directors and key grip. They will also create a Clooney award, which will go to George Clooney. He’s totally better than that Corky kid, he’ll “Hands down, kick his ass.”
May 31st, 2008 at 8:47 am
Love the coens comedies.I thought Ladykillers was classic and ages nicely.”Burn” looks to fit nicely with Lebowski and Ladykillers
May 31st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Love Brad Pitt. Love Brad Pitt. Love Brad Pitt. Adore Brad Pitt. Worship Brad Pitt.
June 1st, 2008 at 12:01 am
That first comment is extremely laughable. Maybe you only know the Coen Bros. from No Country if you were born in the last two damn years.
They’ve been huge forces in Hollywood for years, with a number of hits (and cult classics) on their hands both commercially and critically. Fargo, The Big Lebowski; O, Brother Where Are Thou?; The Ladykillers.
No Country is just the most recent one. Even IF someone hadn’t heard of the Coen’s till now, I would expect people who had the brains to search out and appreciate No Country (even with all the acclaim, it wasn’t like it was Lord of the Rings or anything, commercial-wise) could appreciate variety in directors’ repetoire.
And if not, fuck them. They’re idiots.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:41 am
@ cbabes
The song is Grounds For Divorce by Elbow. Taken from the album The Seldom Seen Kid.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
The movie looks funny!
Can’t wait to see it!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Go Coens, make another great film! The directors and cast rock…Loved Ladykillers, Fargo, O’ Brother, Blood Simple, No Country and liked the dude, Hudsucker Proxy and Miller’s Crossing.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
One thing its got going for it is a tremendously talented cast. Still, I can’t see it playing long term in any mutiplex, but the arthouse theaters will love it. Brad Pitt and Coen brother’s films hardly ever make to the mainstream theaters any more . I saw Babel and No Country For Old Men at the arthouse theater. Both were outstanding! This one looks iffy to me.
July 5th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
The song in the trailer is “Grounds for Divorce” by the band Elbow. It’s on their album “The Seldom Seen Kid.”
August 29th, 2008 at 4:28 am
Does anyone knows the music in the beginnig of the trailer? I LOVE IT :p
September 10th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Well, I’d say that it is Lebowski like, maybe with a bit more of a toned down dialogue. But to confine the Coen brothers works to what they’ve already done seems a bit silly. I mean when you saw a gritty drama like No Country For Old Men, did you start instantly thinking of allusions to Fargo?
What you also have to remember is that the Coens didn’t have as much creative licence over Ladykillers or No Country For Old Men, given that one was a remake and the other was an adaptation.
September 13th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Saw it last night…wonderful, silly, hilarious…with incredible performances, camera work, soundtrack, etc…summed up with The Fugs “CIA Man”…a near perfect movie…the house was full, and the laughter in abundance.
September 14th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I want to know the name of the song during closing credits (f-in’ a man, cia man…)
September 20th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
@someguy
The song in the trailer is C.I.A. Man by The Fugs, circa 1965.