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In Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2008 dark comedy, the lives of a dismissed CIA agent, his unfaithful spouse, and a pair of dim-witted gym staff collide hilariously. Celebrate the film’s 10th anniversary by discovering these 10 amusing insights about Burn After Reading.
1. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME JOEL AND ETHAN COEN WORKED WITH GEORGE CLOONEY.
Focus FeaturesIn Burn After Reading, George Clooney portrays Harry Pfarrer, a married federal marshal entangled in an affair with Katie Cox (Tilda Swinton), the spouse of CIA analyst Osborne Cox (John Malkovich). This film marked Clooney's third project with the Coen brothers, following 2000’s O Brother Where Art Thou? and 2003’s Intolerable Cruelty. The role of Pfarrer was crafted specifically for Clooney by the Coens.
2. THE COENS PENNED THE BURN AFTER READING SCREENPLAY SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.
Typically focusing on one project at a time, the Coens broke their routine with Burn After Reading. "We wrote this script concurrently with our adaptation of No Country for Old Men," Joel Coen revealed. No Country for Old Men later won them Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture in 2008.
3. THE ACTORS TOOK PRECEDENCE OVER THE PLOT.
Burn After Reading showcases many of the Coens' frequent collaborators. Interestingly, the directors prioritized the actors and the scenarios they could be placed in over the story's specifics. "We conceived the idea by considering roles for actors we knew—George Clooney, Richard Jenkins, Frances McDormand, and Brad Pitt—imagining how entertaining it would be to bring them together," Ethan Coen explained. "We envisioned a mix of characters and a narrative that would highlight these actors' talents."
4. THE CHARACTER OF OSBORNE COX WAS TAILORED EXCLUSIVELY FOR JOHN MALKOVICH.
Focus FeaturesDespite never having collaborated with Malkovich previously, the Coens crafted the lead role with the two-time Oscar nominee in mind.
"Similar to Brad, John Malkovich is someone we hadn’t partnered with before but had long desired to," Joel Coen remarked. "Writing John’s role specifically for him was an enjoyable process."
5. THIS FILM SIGNALED THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST TWO DECADES THAT THE COENS DID NOT COLLABORATE WITH THEIR REGULAR CINEMATOGRAPHER, ROGER DEAKINS.
Burn After Reading stands out as one of the rare Coen brothers films not shot by their frequent collaborator, Roger Deakins, who was already engaged with Sam Mendes on Revolutionary Road. For this project, they enlisted Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki, a four-time Oscar nominee at the time, as their director of photography.
"Chivo dedicated considerable time to pre-production in New York City, allowing us to scout locations together and plan lighting setups and architectural adjustments," explained production designer Jess Gonchor. Since then, Lubezki has earned four more Oscar nominations, winning three consecutively: in 2014 for Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity, followed by Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) in 2015 and The Revenant in 2016, both directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
6. FRANCES MCDORMAND'S CHARACTER'S BOB HAIRCUT WAS POLITICALLY INSPIRED.
The hairstyle was inspired by Linda Tripp, the whistleblower in the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal, particularly her post-makeover look after she brought the scandal to public attention.
7. TILDA SWINTON FELT HER APPEARANCE RESEMBLED A SIMPSONS CHARACTER.
Focus FeaturesMcDormand's bob wasn't the only hairstyle making a statement in the film. Tilda Swinton's character also sported a strikingly recognizable look. "Katie's hair is impeccably straight, without a single curl, and dyed a bold, unnatural iron-red shade," Swinton noted. "It reminded me of Edna Krabappel’s hairstyle from The Simpsons."
8. THE COENS ENCOURAGED THE CAST TO CHANNEL THEIR "INNER FOOLS."
To prepare for the film, the Coens instructed the actors to tap into their "inner fools." Joel Coen explained: "The story revolves around middle-aged individuals grappling with professional, personal, and sexual crises tied to national security. This makes it a quintessential Washington tale. The plot intertwines the Central Intelligence Agency with the fitness world, exploring their collision, while also weaving in elements of online dating." Indeed, the narrative is packed with layers.
9. THE MOVIE'S THEATRICAL POSTER DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM 1960S ESPIONAGE THRILLERS.
The poster's typography was inspired by a similar font used in the 1967 film The Comedians.
10. THE POSTER FOR COMING UP DAISY, THE FICTIONAL FILM WITHIN THE MOVIE, CLAIMS IT WAS ADAPTED FROM A NOVEL BY CORMAC MCCARTHY.
Focus FeaturesMcCarthy, renowned for No Country for Old Men, is credited as the author. The brief glimpses of Coming Up Daisy featured in the movie were directed by the Coens’ longtime friend and collaborator, Sam Raimi.
