an alcoholic and terminate cia agent ( john malkovich ) decide to write his memoir . his wife and who be cheat on him with another federal agent ( george clooney ) and accidentally steal the memoir when she be retrieve the couple financial record . this disc and due to the negligence of a law clerk and then fall into the hand of two fitness trainer ( france mcdormand and brad pitt ) and one of whom be also sleep with the adulterous federal agent . from there and mayhem and blackmail ensue . can the coen brother make a bad film . i mean and i suppose the answer be yes . but i have yet to see one . without skip a beat and they go from a serious oscar win drama ( no country for old men ) to a silly and effective comedy . and they excel in both genre equally well . i think some people may have be let down by burn because they expect another oscar film and but these people miss the point . the plot be so intertwined ( not unlike past coen film and like the big lebowski ) that try to figure out what go on and who be work for who be half the fun . and every character have their idiosyncrasy and make them each unique and funny in their own way . be able to write such a script and plot be a gift and and the fact they have do this successfully multiple time really make me feel that the coens be go to go down as some of the great creator of their generation . fan of the big lebowski will like this one . the style be similar and and the cast be amazing represent pitt and clooney and malkovich . you really have to be a cynical person to not be interested in this one .