Prior to its release, some people, including myself, wondered exactly how the Coen brothers planned to follow up last year’s piece of sensational cinema “No Country For Old Men.” Well the answer my friends and foes are three simple words. “Burn After Reading.”

The film instantly starts off with what has become the classic dry comedy the Coen brothers have continued to bury in our guts. Osbourne Cox (Malkovich) has just been downgraded from his previous ranking in the CIA. Instead of marching along like a good little soldier he decides to tell them all to fuck off, quite literally. He decides to write a book consisting of his experiences in the business. Here’s where the hilarity ensues.

A janitor at the local gym comes across a seemingly innocent disk in the woman’s locker room. After Chad (Pitt) and Linda (McDormand) pop it in the computer thinking it’s just some music mix of sorts, they find what seems to be information on a highly classified level, along with an array of numbers. When Linda finds out the gym’s HMO won’t cover the extensive cosmetic surgeries she has decided to undergo, they decide to be “good samaritans” and return the disk, for a reward of course, to it’s owner, who happens to be Osbourne Cox. When the deal between the pair and Cox goes awry, they decide to step it up a notch. Unfortunately for them, Cox’s life is quickly unraveling, leaving him an ever so difficult person to deal with.

Meanwhile, serial Internet polygamist and former federal marshal Harry Pfarrer (Clooney) is continually having an affair with Cox’s uptight wife Katie (Swinton) and finds himself tangled in the oddball scheme that has become the life of Osbourne Cox.

I’d like to go on and on but I must say the rest you need to see for yourself. My words are clearly not complimenting enough to describe the outcome. What I can tell you is that the performances in this film are just what the summer has needed to pick up the pace. I guess with an all-star cast like this not much could go wrong but honestly, as much of a fan as I am of the players here, I was unaware that they could bring out the laughs on such a level. They blend together like a delicious fruit smoothie with a little kicker of vodka to ultimately leave you refreshed and satisfied. I really need not say anything about the directing. The Coens never fail and probably never will. Their as close to indie perfection as you can get. I would however like to note the always pleasing Richard Jenkins. He has a small role in this one, but in that time he manages to bring out every aspect of his character. Kudos Richard, you are truly one of the greatly under appreciated actors of our time.

Now that I’m finished I have a question for you all. Why are you still reading this instead of being at your local theater seeing this film. In all seriousness, put it on the top of your list whether be it long or short. What a great start to the fall. Now as I leave you, ponder this line from our favorite absent-minded gym rat Chad Feldheimer. “Osbourne Cox? I thought you might be worried…about the security…of your shit.”