Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Inspector Gadget Duex? or Burn After Reading

Remember in Inspector Gadget when the messages would always end "this message will self-distruct after 5 seconds." Or something like that?

That's what I think when I hear the title for the Joel and Ethan Coen film Burn After Reading scheduled to be released this year.

After my earlier post where I ranked the Coen films in order of my own interest (often different from other readers) I realized there's a lot of Coen love with StrangeCulture readers...probably more love than I have to give.

The film stars Academy and Entertainment Weekly favorites, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, and Francis McDormand. (In that group of 5 actors 3 have won Oscars, and together they share 10 nominations).

The premise of the Crime Comedy (Cromedy?...nah!) is that two gym employees get their hand on the memoir of a CIA agent and they try to sell it.

Because Coen films recycle elements of previous films, I'm guessing this was has the feel of Raising Arizona, yet with it's Washing DC location it won't have the same "twang."

I wonder if this film will have any Oscar success...I would anticipate that the Coen's could get some editing and scripting honors, and if I had to guess an acting nomination I think I would see it landing on a supporting player since this is a lighter film...George Clooney as the federal marshall? Malkovitch at the CIA vet? or what about JK Simmons...he's never been nominated...can he outshine these hot actors?

I guess it's really not like inspector gadget at all. Although Inspector Gadget always made a mess of things...just like those "smart guys" in the Coen crime flicks. Of course, they usually don't cast a daughter named Penny with a super watch and a crime solving dog to help them out. But if they did...

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey strangeculture guys, thanks for keeping us up to date with the culture stuff. I'm daily becoming more aware of its importance and constantly trying to figure out how to leverage it for God's glory. I appreciate the site. For RC, blogger small groups up.

Adam Ross said...

"That's the top secret Gadget Phone! Is that you, Chief? You're where?"

jasdye said...

penny was the niece...

Daniel said...

I cannot wait to see this. Just can't. And regardless of its quality, I would say its Oscar chances are high based on the cast and Coens alone. Look what happened with Michael Clayton.

Will said...

Wasn't it Mission: Impossible that had the "this message will self-destruct in 5 seconds"?

Either way, I've been psyched about the Coens meet Brad Pitt combo. I'm wondering if we'll have any "Oceans" comedy chemistry between Pitt and Clooney. Can't hurt at all.

Michael Parsons said...

Can Brad ever be Oscar nominated again? I actually really doubt it.

JK would be wonderful!

RC said...

@ b/ thanks for the compliment -- thanks for reading, commenting, etc.

@ jasdye...true stuff my bad. Penny and Brain rock! Penny's So smart & humble. Very uncommon attribute pairing.


@ daniel g. I hope it's good too...and who knows with the Coen's

@ will...Mission Impossible & Inspector Gadget had the exploding messages...but Inspector Gadget would always not be aware of it and the message would explode on the chief (Chief Quimby). Inspector G. was so oblivious.

Pitt + Clooney...that's crazy buzz machine magic!

@ Michael, I think Pitt has a chance. It just depends on what he does...I think Benjamin Button will tell.