Burn After Reading is an upcoming comedy film, set for a September 12, 2008 release, starring John Malkovich, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt, and made by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film is due to premiere on August 27, 2008 when it will open the 2008 Venice Film Festival.
According to the Coens the plot will focus on the world of the CIA, physical fitness in Washington, D.C., and internet dating. The film is the brothers’ first since the Academy Award winning No Country For Old Men and has been described by Tilda Swinton as “…a kind of monster caper movie. All of us are monsters – like, true monsters. It’s ridiculous. It’s much lighter than No Country for Old Men.“
Plot summary
Ozzie Cox (John Malkovich) is a CIA veteran who is fired because he is an alcoholic. He takes his revenge by writing some inflammatory memoirs. Cox’s soon-to-be ex-wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) steals the disc containing his memoirs and accidentally leaves it at the gym where it is found by a trainer, Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) and the gym’s owner, Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand). They believe they can use the info toblackmail Cox.
Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) is an oversexed, fanatically fit, lactose-intolerant federal marshal who is sleeping with Cox’s estranged wife. He meets Linda via an online dating service and gets entangled in the blackmail scheme, when he stumbles across Chad breaking into his and Katie’s house.
Production notes
This will be the first Coen brothers film since Miller’s Crossing not to use Roger Deakins as cinematographer, instead using Children of Men’sEmmanuel Lubezki.
Although the CIA agent’s house is set in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., the majority of the filming was done in Brooklyn Heights, as the Coens wanted to stay in New York City to be with their families. Other scenes were filmed at Paramus, New Jersey, Westchester County, New Yorkand Washington, D.C.
Filming began on August 27, 2007 and was completed on October 30, 2007.
Working Title Films is producing the film for Focus Features.
Cast
- George Clooney - Harry Pfarrer
- Frances McDormand - Linda Litzke
- Brad Pitt - Chad Feldheimer
- John Malkovich - Osbourne Cox
- Tilda Swinton - Katie Cox
- Richard Jenkins - Ted Treffon
- David Rasche
- Devin Rumer - Surveillance Man
- J. K. Simmons
