I have a small confession to make: I don’t really like The Big Lebowski. Maybe I was just expecting something more, something legendary. Instead, it was just kind of mildly funny and weird. And while No Country for Old Men was certainly thought-provoking, it didn’t seem like classic Oscar material. It’s not The Godfather. It’s just the Coen brothers.

I may have to rethink my opinions, though. Their upcoming comedy, Burn After Reading, just released a red band trailer that looks great. Of course, the all-star cast doesn’t hurt - John Malkovich, J.K. Simmons, Tilda Swinton, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt are just some of the faces you’ll recognize. With that powerhouse behind it, how can Burn After Reading possibly fail?

As outlined pretty well in the trailer, it’s the story of an airheaded fitness center employee (Pitt) who finds a CD full of secret CIA documents, which was inadvertently abandoned by Malkovich. Meanwhile, Clooney’s having an affair with Swinton, who happens to be Malkovich’s wife. Hilarity ensues!

Judging from the trailer, the humor is low-key, smart, and occasionally adorable. Brad Pitt hasn’t played a role this awesome since True Romance, where he spent only a few memorable minutes onscreen as Michael Rapaport’s stoner buddy. While he always brings a unique flair, even to his blandest characters, Burn After Reading really gives him a chance to shine as a comic actor.

Tilda Swinton, meanwhile, is fresh off her (deservedly) Oscar-winning performance in Michael Clayton. Her triumph at the ceremony is even more admirable, since it wasn’t the kind of role you’d expect to win anything. Michael Clayton itself was a dark horse nominee; Swinton, even more so. Now, she and Clooney are together again, making good use of their obvious chemistry. Simmons seems dryly humorous like always, and the rest of the cast, even the nameless ones, are perfect.

I give this one a premature seal of approval. Don’t let us down, Coens!

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