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Coens and stars plot laughs from CIA paranoia tale

BY JOHN ANDERSON | Special to Newsday

September 11, 2008

THE MOVIE Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich and Joel and Ethan Coen star in the Coen brothers' newest, "Burn After Reading." The black comedy about paranoia and perceived conspiracy theories in Washington, D.C., opens tomorrow. The movie had its premiere earlier this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, where the directors and stars were interviewed.

THE DEAL The film stars performers who are becoming either Coen brothers regulars, or regular co-stars: Swinton and Clooney were in last year's " Michael Clayton," Clooney and Pitt have starred in the "Ocean's Eleven" films, Clooney worked for the Coens in "O Brother, Where Art Thou."

THE BUZZ Coming off last year's best picture Oscar winner, " No Country for Old Men," the Coens are hearing the word "darker" regarding their new film. A darker comedy, a darker view of human nature. Is that the subtext? "Sounds like it," said director Joel Coen. "I'm not even sure it's a subtext," said writer-producer Ethan Coen.

PITT PLAYS FOR LAUGHS. "Burn After Reading" features a purely comedic performance by Pitt as knucklehead Chad Feldheimer. (There's ample precedent: His pothead in 'True Romance" remains a classic of the idiot-stoner genre.) How is comedy treating him? "I'm kind of groping my way through it," he said. "But I sort of feel like I've been doing comedies for years. Maybe they weren't so funny...."

SWINTON ON PITT AND CLOONEY "I'm trying to have it worked into every contract that I get to co-star with George. It's tough, but I'm trying. Brad, too. But we also have the aim of being in a film where we actually say nice things to each other."

PITT ON JOLIE Asked his view, and whether he wanted to work again with Angelina Jolie (the couple starred in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"), new father Pitt said, "Believe me, we're working together every day."

ETHAN COEN ON DOING INTERVIEWS "We do so much by intuition, you really don't think about things in an intellectual way. So sometimes, people think we're being elusive, but it's really that we don't have anything else to say."