The Great Ensemble of ... Burn After Reading

Not many of the performances in 'Burn After Reading' are Oscar-worthy, yet maybe considerable. Overall, they may be a bit too comedic and goofy to really stand as brilliant performances (in the eyes of the Academy). Yet all of the actors in this Coens' film and the characters they play work together to make a cast full of interesting people creating a very, very good film. All are well-written and contribute into the plot, one way or another. From best to worst, here they are...


Frances McDormand as Lisa Litzke

Probably the gem of the film. Pulls off Lisa's accent (whatever accent it is..?) in Marge Gundersoneque fashion and pulls off every line she needs to. Little, subtle parts of this performance make it a memeorable one. Kudos to Ethan and Joel's screenplay as Lisa is a very interesting character, both good-hearted and bad-hearted at times.

John Malkovich as Osbourne Cox

Pulls off about a hundred (or so it seems) F-words that are all done in perfect fashion. Malkovich looks like the character he plays. Ozzie Cox is a snob (graduate of Princeton, whaddya expect?) and a pissed-off sneer is his usual facial expression. He thinks he's much smarter than he is and has an air of unearned superiority that Malkovich plays perfectly.

Richard Jenkins as Ted Treffon

He's the meek guy who always is playing life on the safe side (SPOLIER: until the end of the film...) and he takes his role as gym manager quite seriously. Jenkins keeps up his string of subtle brilliance as just a twitch of the lip from him can show his inner-feelings of conflict.

Tilda Swinton as Katie Cox

One of the coldest bitches of the silver screen in 2008. Her constant sneers revealed feelings that made you feel as though you were three inches tall. She doesn't have time for you. You're below her. Swinton pulls off (this easy role/) this vile woman perfectly.

George Clooney as Harry Pfarrer

Probably the biggest asshole in the film and that is one difficult title to claim. This ain't the Peace Corps. Clooney is good and goofy as hell when he needs to be. Yet, I find the characters above a bit more distinct and entertaining. Clooney holds up in decent manner, though.

Brad Pitt as Chad Feldheimer

Chad is kind of ... high on life? I attribute the character's annoying ways more to the writing but I just lost the energy to care about him as the film went on. The lowlight in my opinion.