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Burn After Reading

(2008, Rated R, Comedy, Starring George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Quirky, violent Coen comedy isn't meant for kids.

updated 12.22.08

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Everyone in the movie is a liar, pursuing selfish ends. Husbands and wives cheat on each other; one man trolls online dating sites for sex partners and then lies shamelessly to get them into bed; another hides the fact that he's been fired; and two other people try to pass themselves off as spies to sell stolen documents. Even the characters who initially seem like good people end up displaying their darker, pettier side.
  • Violence :

    Several moments of violence -- involving fists, guns, knives, and an axe -- pop up so suddenly that they're quite startling. The fights are realistic, bloody, and gory. People are killed, their bodies disposed of. Some characters also use cars as weapons, intentionally ramming into other vehicles.
  • Sex :

    Some scenes show people having sex -- sound effects, but no nudity. The couples are shown talking in bed afterward, presumably naked under the covers. One character builds an elaborate sex chair with an extremely crass sexual accessory, which he shows off to a date.
  • Language:

    Plenty of swearing, including "f--k," "s--t," "bitch," and more. Every character's vocabulary is liberally peppered with curses.
  • Consumerism:

    Some brands of alcohol are referred to by name and/or shown on screen. Several characters' cars are shown repeatedly, including their logos. One fitness-obsessed man is insulted when his fancy bike is described as a "Schwinn." He's also practically glued to his iPod. There are mentions of PCs, Macs, and Gatorade, as well as logos for Safeway, 7-Eleven, and Tropicana.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Osborne Cox drinks often, and some scenes show him carefully preparing his beverages. In several scenes, he's clearly drunk. A coworker says Cox has a drinking problem, sending him into a rage.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Burn After Reading

Parents need to know that this quirky comic thriller has much in common with others in the Coen brothers' canon: It's very funny and very violent. There's plenty of sex (though not much nudity) and swearing ("f--k"s galore), and characters drink, like, manipulate, and whatever else they need to do to promote their own selfish interests. But teens may still want to see it, both because it stars Brad Pitt and George Clooney and because so many of the Coens' previous comedies have become cult favorites (Fargo, Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski).

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about whether any of the characters in the movie can be considered role models. What motivates them to behave the way they do? What do they have in common with characters in other Coen brothers movies? How does the movie as a whole stack up against the Coens' other films? Families can also discuss how a mountain is made out of a molehill in the movie. How does the situation escalate so quickly? Teens: Have you ever found yourself in circumstances that spun out of control? What did you do?
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  • What did you think about Burn After Reading?
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See all 13 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 0.0

    e.g. Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens

    LOL SO FUNNY

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

  3. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    See after reading my review.

    Burn After Reading proves that the Coen brothers have not lost there touch of comedy or drama they put an eerie sound to the movie and dumb funny characters to add. Very Good.

  4. Kid Reviewer
    Age 9
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Quit makin' films, Cohen.

    Dosen't get much dumber than this.

  5. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

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