Coen fans sure to love 'Burn After Reading'

Cert: 15

It hardly matters that the plot is so complex and rambling - all you need to know is that it concerns a disc stolen off a disgraced CIA agent (Malkovich) by a couple of dim gym workers (Pitt and McDormand) who try to scam some money for its return.

It’s a Coen brothers film so the main concern centres on how well they bring it off.

Well, the answer – even if reviews have elsewhere been decidedly mixed – is that they have brought us a dark and funny film, chiefly involving stupid people doing stupid things.

OK, so the plot could have done with stronger control – not, though, quite as baffling as some critics have suggested. If you have two grey cells on speaking terms you can follow it quite easily.

The cast look like they had a great time making the film, producing some surprisingly good performances: top marks here to Pitt, who brings an innocence to his role that adds another notch to his acting CV.

Clooney womanises his way through the film, Malkovich is as manic as ever and McDormand, as always, shines.

Everybody’s excellent and that makes for a film you’ll either love or hate, depending on how you rate the iconic Coens as moviemakers.

Star Rating: 4/5