Small Beans 201. The Coen Brothers Brothers: Burn After Reading
Jun 14, 2019
Michael and Abe delve into the Coen Brothers' quirky film, exploring its cast and unique origins. They unpack the spy genre tropes and how the film cleverly twists expectations. The hosts discuss Osborne Cox's midlife crisis, the chaos triggered by a lost disc, and Linda and Chad's hilariously misguided blackmail scheme. The narrative darkens with unexpected twists, culminating in a reflection on nihilism and random fate. Expect insights on the film's score, cinematography, and the Coens' unique directing style, peppered with behind-the-scenes trivia.
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Spy Tropes Intentionally Undermined
- Burn After Reading deliberately mimics spy tropes only to undercut them at every turn.
- The Coen brothers use repetition and familiar beats so the audience expects spy stakes that never materialize.
Casting As The Coens' Superpower
- The Coens' greatest superpower is casting and trusting actors to elevate thinly funny lines.
- They create scripts that depend on performers' specific rhythms and improvisation to land jokes.
Absurd Alternate Script Titles
- The Coens drafted four alternate scripts with absurd working titles during No Country's shoot.
- Proposed joke titles included 'Sperm After Greeting' and 'Turn After Breading' before settling on Burn After Reading.
